Osun 2026: “You Should’ve Left PDP For ADC” – Okolugbo Blasts Adeleke

A former Special Adviser to the Senate President and public affairs analyst, Kenny Okolugbo, has criticised Governor Ademola Adeleke’s decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Accord Party ahead of the 2026 Osun State governorship election.

Speaking on Arise Television on Sunday, Okolugbo argued that Adeleke’s decision could weaken his chances of retaining the governorship because the PDP would remain on the ballot, potentially attracting voters who had previously supported the governor under the party.

According to the analyst, some traditional PDP supporters may still vote for the party despite Adeleke’s defection, thereby reducing the votes available to him under the Accord platform.

Okolugbo said the governor could have enjoyed a stronger political advantage had he joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) instead.

He maintained that moving to the ADC could have positioned Adeleke more favourably against the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing his choice of Accord as a strategic miscalculation.

The analyst said the governor’s defection from the PDP followed prolonged internal disputes, factional divisions and legal disagreements within the party.

He argued that while Adeleke may have sought a fresh political platform through Accord, the continued presence of the PDP on the ballot could create a challenge by splitting votes among voters who had previously backed him.

Okolugbo also addressed the controversy surrounding the restriction placed on the Osun State Government’s accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He said the state government should have immediately contacted the anti-graft agency to seek clarification and provide explanations concerning transactions that had been flagged as suspicious.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu’s intervention should not be interpreted as a declaration that the EFCC acted unlawfully.

Okolugbo explained that the President’s concern was primarily about the timing and public perception of the restriction, particularly because it occurred shortly before the election.

He further argued that the state government should have responded directly to the EFCC’s concerns by providing details of the withdrawals under investigation.

The analyst also pointed to comments attributed to Adeleke suggesting that the governor had anticipated the restriction on the state’s accounts.

Okolugbo said such a statement could indicate that the governor had prior knowledge that the accounts might face restrictions, adding that the circumstances surrounding the issue required greater clarification.

He maintained that greater communication between the state government and the EFCC could have helped address the concerns surrounding the disputed transactions and reduced the political tension generated by the development.