…as APC Elders Meet Guber Aspirants Ahead of Primary
A prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Ibukun Fadipe, has stated that Governor Ademola Adeleke does not require the support of President Bola Tinubu or the Federal Government to secure victory in the 2026 governorship election.
Fadipe, who currently chairs the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), disclosed during a radio programme monitored by The Guardian that President Tinubu personally sought Adeleke’s endorsement for his 2027 presidential re-election bid. According to him, the governor agreed to back Tinubu only after the President committed to refunding monies expended by Osun State on federal road projects and promised to embark on other critical infrastructure works across the state.
“The governor’s decision to support President Tinubu was not politically motivated but development-driven,” Fadipe explained. “Governor Adeleke has delivered beyond expectations and does not need federal endorsement to win re-election. The people of Osun are his greatest asset.”
He added that the move initially met stiff resistance from PDP stakeholders, but Adeleke ultimately yielded after intense lobbying by emissaries from the Presidency. Fadipe further revealed that Tinubu had deployed an independent team to assess the political terrain in Osun and was informed that the PDP remains the dominant political force in the state.
The PDP stalwart also criticised the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, for allegedly failing to leverage his federal position to benefit Osun. This, he said, further validated the need for Adeleke to engage directly with the President for the state’s interest.
Fadipe, however, clarified that Governor Adeleke’s alliance with Tinubu should not be misconstrued as a defection plan, stressing that the governor remains committed to the PDP and its values.
In a related development, ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election slated for November 2025, the party’s Elders’ Caucus held a closed-door meeting with gubernatorial aspirants on Monday.
The strategic session, held at the residence of the caucus chairman, Sola Akinwumi, in Ilobu, focused on fostering internal unity and aligning preparations for a successful primary exercise.
