Confusion Hits APC, PDP Members Over Adeleke’s Defection Rumour
- PDP Leaders Endorse Adeleke’s Defection Plan
- We Are Unaware Adeleke Wants To Join Us – Osun APC
THERE is confusion in the rank and file of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State over the rumoured defection of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that in the last three weeks, rumours have swelled that the governor is planning to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, under which he won the gubernatorial election, for the APC.
However, since the news broke, members of the two parties have been trading words over the circumstances leading the governor to the APC.
Even though the governor has at different fora debunked the rumour, many political analysts believe that Adeleke’s move to the APC is a matter of time.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, over the weekend, vowed to follow the governor wherever he goes.
The Osun PDP leadership caucus passed a vote of confidence on Governor Adeleke at a meeting held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House on Saturday.
The governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, in a statement, said the leaders praised the Governor’s leadership and performance in office and mandated him to continue consultations with all stakeholders locally and nationally.
“The caucus meeting has in attendance representatives of all sections of the party and government namely the National Assembly caucus, the State Assembly caucus, the State Executive Council, the State Executive of the party, the Special Advisers’ Forum, the elders caucus and the state chapter of ALGON leadership,” the statement noted.
The statement further said that, after briefing from Governor Adeleke and exhaustive deliberations by leaders, a communique was issued to signal its direction on the issue at the moment.
In the communique, according to the statement, the PDP state leadership resolved to follow Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke wherever he goes.
“The meeting, however, recognised that the Governor is still consulting on the next lines of action,” the statement noted.
But the All Progressives Congress, while speaking on the issue, said Adeleke’s defection is a rumour that holds no water.
The party stated that the rumour is being peddled by the state governor and his team to destabilise the APC, noting that such is not happening or being contemplated at all levels of the party.
“At no time was there any pressure from the presidency that Governor Adeleke should defect into our party as it has been the rumour by the governor’s lieutenants and his co-travellers,” a statement by APC’s Director of media and information, Kola Olabisi, noted.
“It is not true that Governor Adeleke has joined the Osun State chapter of the APC, as there are constitutional hurdles that need to be crossed for such an endeavour to be accomplished.
“We can observe that some of the lieutenants and foot soldiers of Governor Ademola have become ecstatic beyond imagination because of the imaginary defection of their principal, which at this moment still remains within the realm of speculation.
“It is an impossible utopia for a governor to defect into our party without the knowledge of its National Chairman, Mr Ali Dalori, Chief Bisi Akande, State Leader, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, state chairman, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, the Agba Osun, and others,” the statement added.
The statement further said insinuation by some members of the PDP that President Bola Tinubu was the one making overtures to Adeleke was a lie.
“The nauseating development is the constant lies being reeled out by the governor’s lieutenants and social media emergency writers that it was the forward-looking, hardworking and proactive President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who has been making overtures to Governor Adeleke which is nothing but a mere concoction to portray and create resemblance of importance to the governor,” the statement stated.
Kazeem Badmus is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience. A professional in journalism and media writing, Kazeem prioritses accuracy and factual reportage of issues. He is also a dexterous finder of the truth with conscious delivery of unbiased and development oriented stories.
