In a major political shakeup in Osun State, six federal lawmakers elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have officially defected to the Accord Party, throwing their weight behind Governor Ademola Adeleke ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
The announcement was made during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Accord Party in Osogbo on Monday, where the lawmakers joined Governor Adeleke in reaffirming support for his re-election campaign under the new party.
Leading the charge, Hon. Clement Akanni (Boluwaduro/Ifedayo/Ila Federal Constituency) declared:
“On behalf of Mahruf Adewale (Osogbo), Bamidele Salam (Ede), Soji Adetunji (Ikirun), Mudashiru Lukman Alani (Iwo), Lanre Oladebo (Irewole/Isokan), all of us from today have moved to the Accord Party.”
Akanni also predicted a landslide win for the governor, stating:
“After voting, with our projections, 80% of the votes will go to Adeleke. We will win, and all of us will be alive to witness it. But we must remain vigilant—check result sheets, check ballot papers, and monitor your votes.”
The lawmakers’ exit adds to the growing wave of defections from the PDP following Governor Adeleke’s own departure from the party in December 2025. He cited internal divisions and divine direction as his reasons for switching parties.
“I love PDP but I had to leave to avoid being trapped in my reelection bid,” Adeleke said during the meeting. “We prayed, we consulted, and we were guided into Accord Party.”
The governor urged his supporters to vote massively for Accord Party to guarantee electoral victory.
The event also witnessed the defection of 25 members of the Osun State House of Assembly elected under the PDP. They echoed similar concerns and declared loyalty to the new party in order to “better serve their constituencies.”
With the mass defection, Accord Party has become the dominant political force in Osun, dramatically reshaping the landscape ahead of the 2026 elections and potentially weakening the PDP’s hold on the state.
