Ahead Osun Election: Adeleke Made Wrong Move Leaving PDP for Accord, Says Okolugbo

Public affairs analyst and former Special Adviser to the Senate President, Kenny Okolugbo, has criticised Governor Ademola Adeleke’s decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Accord Party ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.

Okolugbo argued that Adeleke could have been in a stronger political position had he joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) instead of Accord.

Governor Adeleke had earlier announced his departure from the PDP, citing the prolonged leadership crisis within the party. The dispute has resulted in factional divisions, legal challenges and conflicting court rulings.

The governor subsequently joined Accord, saying the move would provide a more stable platform for his re-election bid.

However, speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Sunday, Okolugbo said Adeleke’s decision could cost him some votes because the PDP remains on the ballot.

“People will still vote for the PDP because the party is on the ballot, and he could lose some of those votes,” Okolugbo said.

He added that he would have preferred Adeleke to join the ADC, arguing that such a move could have given the governor a stronger position against the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“If I were him, I would have left the PDP for the ADC because he would have had a greater advantage over the APC. I think he didn’t play that political move well,” he said.

Okolugbo Questions Osun Government’s Response to EFCC Action

The political analyst also criticised the Osun State Government’s response to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over concerns surrounding withdrawals from state government accounts.

Okolugbo said the state government should have immediately sought clarification from the anti-graft agency and provided explanations regarding the transactions that were reportedly flagged.

He noted that the timing of the EFCC’s action, coming shortly before the election, could create concerns among voters.

“The President didn’t say what the EFCC had done was wrong. He was clearly saying that the optics were concerning because it was just 10 days to the election,” he said.

According to Okolugbo, the state government should have engaged the EFCC directly to clarify the transactions and address any concerns surrounding the withdrawals.

He also pointed to the governor’s previous statement that he was aware there would be restrictions on the accounts, suggesting that the state government may have had prior knowledge of the development.

The Osun State governorship election is scheduled for August 15, 2026, with the Accord Party, APC and ADC among the major parties competing for the governorship.