The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says internal party disputes were the main factor behind Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke’s defection to the Accord Party, though the governor cannot be absolved entirely.
Ini Ememobong, PDP’s national publicity secretary, who spoke on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, described Adeleke’s exit as the outcome of unresolved conflicts within the party leadership.
Adeleke resigned from the PDP on December 2, citing leadership issues, before joining the Accord Party. He has since been confirmed as the party’s candidate for the 2026 Osun governorship election.
Ememobong said the crisis within the PDP created fissures that grew over time, eventually prompting Adeleke’s departure.
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“Adeleke’s defection was avoidable because every problem is human-caused and therefore should have a human solution,” he said.
He added that disagreements within the party had been visible since 2023 and could have been addressed while still manageable. Delays by the party leadership, he noted, allowed the tension to worsen.
Negotiations Had Failed to Salvage PDP Crisis
“At the level of leadership to which he belonged in the party, the party ought to have acted decisively,” Ememobong said.
He further warned against underestimating political disputes, noting that reliance on negotiations and the hope that tempers would calm naturally had failed.
“Sometimes they think that with negotiations, when passions are calm, people could reconsider their position, but unfortunately, it didn’t,” he said.
Ememobong, however, stressed that Adeleke bears part of the responsibility for the circumstances that led to his defection.
“Adeleke’s exit was due to circumstances arising from vicarious liabilities which he cannot completely extricate himself from,” he said.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
