Former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has given reasons why his group decided to part ways with Governor Ademola Adeleke, due to lack of inclusion in handling government affairs.
Oyinlola disclosed this on Tuesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, that Adeleke failed to consult key stakeholders before defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the Accord Party ahead of the state’s governorship election.
He described Adeleke’s decision as very disappointing, revealing that he had earlier held discussions with the Governor and his brother, Deji, on possible alternative platforms amid the crisis within the PDP.
He explained that the discussions with Adeleke and his brother centred on four alternative political platforms, but he personally advocated for the Accord Party, which he believed would appeal more to voters in the state.
His comment comes just days after the former governor publicly led a major faction of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains to endorse Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election.
Oyinlola, joined by a former Secretary to the State Government, Mr Fatai Akinbade, and former PDP National Vice Chairman, Southwest, Tajudeen Oladipo, however, declared that they were not dumping the PDP.
He added that the group adopted Oyebamiji’s candidature, “having considered the decision necessary and out of conviction and sincere desire for the progress of the state.
“I think I had discussions with the governor and his brother, Deji, on four possibilities. We had some understanding on which of the platforms would be attractive, not to the party alone, but to the people of the state. They suggested the possibilities anyway and these are APGA, NNPP, ADP, and ACCORD. I put forward the argument that ACCORD will resonate with our people,” he explained.
Oyinlola said the stakeholders had anticipated that the crisis within the PDP at the national level could affect the party’s chances in Osun and had consequently considered alternative platforms for the governorship election.
“We foresaw this problem with the commencement of the turbulent weather that hit the PDP at the national level. So, we know for sure that it will permeate downwards and that was why we had the discussion that what would be the alternative to PDP in as far as the contest for the governorship, which is at hand, is concerned.”
Oyinlola, however, said the agreement was that stakeholders would meet after Adeleke and his brother returned from abroad to determine how they would proceed.
He said he was therefore surprised to discover through social media that Adeleke had resigned from the PDP and joined Accord without further consultation.
“Both of them were outside the country when we discussed. And we said, as soon as they come back, let’s have stakeholders’ meeting so that we can fine-tune how we report into which of the parties we want to use.”
“Surprisingly, my governor came back from the U.S. Without any discussion, without any stakeholders’ meeting to fine-tune things the way we have agreed, I saw on social media, like every other member, that my governor has resigned from the PDP and he has joined ACCORD.”
Oyinlola said although some stakeholders had already agreed that Accord was a suitable platform, Adeleke’s decision to join the party without carrying everyone along amounted to another example of what he described as non-inclusiveness.
“Even though we were all thinking of what platform would best serve our interests, but it would only be nice to carry everybody along in that decision. So, deciding that he is going to ACCORD and not taking the whole party along is one of the non-inclusive actions.”
He said some political appointees and office holders subsequently followed Adeleke into the Accord Party, but the effort to bring all stakeholders together failed.
“Some, especially the appointees, political office holders, went with him into ACCORD. It was made to bring everybody together, but that failed,” Oyinlola added.
Oyinlola said the failure of the consultation process contributed to his decision, alongside other PDP stakeholders, to support the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
“And we felt we should exercise our conscience as stakeholders who have served the state. I do believe that at this particular moment, Osun State will require a different direction. That was why we did what we did.”