Osun 2026: Defections, counter defections rattle APC, Accord ahead of governorship poll

By Lateef Dada, Osogbo

As the governorship election of 15 August draws nearer, political alliances across Osun State are increasingly being tested, particularly within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Accord Party, both of which have recorded high profile movements of defectors and former party members.

Resignation letters have become a recurring feature of the political landscape, with political gladiators openly signalling that party switching is set to intensify as the election approaches.

One of the most notable departures came from Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, who resigned his membership of the party and defected to the APC. Oyedokun also hinted that additional strong PDP figures were preparing to follow suit.

This development unfolded shortly after another PDP setback. Dotun Babayemi, a governorship aspirant, was suspended from the PDP for alleged anti party activities. Babayemi and Oyedokun later joined the APC, leaving the PDP with hundreds of followers who crossed over.

Oyedokun, a former member of the PDP Board of Trustees, is deeply rooted in Odo Otin Local Government. His exit, political gladiators suggested, is a significant loss to the party’s influence in the area, despite the party’s claim that he is no longer relevant.

Babayemi is no stranger to politics in Osun West. Before joining the APC fold, he had built political strength in the region, especially in the Osun West senatorial district, where he contested for the senatorial seat under the APC. Since 2017, he has also run a health initiative providing medical services across the ten local governments in Osun West.

In addition, Babayemi introduced a loan programme targeted at artisans and traders who are party members across the senatorial district. Such efforts strengthened his grassroots network and positioned him as one of the top contenders during the last APC governorship primary, where Bola Oyebamiji eventually emerged, reportedly with support linked to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

Another figure who moved from the PDP to the APC is Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, a former PDP governorship aspirant and the Accord Party governorship candidate in the 2022 election. Ogunbiyi joined the APC in 2023. He is also the Group Chairman of Mutual Benefit Assurance Plc and contested the governorship primary alongside Oyebamiji.

Ogunbiyi’s political clout in Osun West, particularly around Iwo, is widely acknowledged. He is currently the APC senatorial candidate for Osun West.

Among the well known politicians believed to be well established in their constituencies are former Secretary to the State Government under Oyinlola, Kazeem Adio; ex Chief of Staff to Oyinlola, Peter Babalola; and PDP House of Representatives aspirant, Kayode Oduoye.

Before resigning from the PDP, Babalola served as Chairman of the governing council of the Osun State College of Education, Ila Orangun. He was also a governorship aspirant under the PDP and, like others in the same political circle, draws support from the western part of the state, within the same local government areas associated with APC candidates Oyebamiji and Babayemi.

The defection of Francis Fadahunsi, a second term senator representing Osun East, is also significant. Fadahunsi is reportedly well known in the district since his time as Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, and his continued relevance in politics has earned him strong support both before and after joining political activity.

Similarly, Hon Oluwole Oke, a sixth term House of Representatives member representing Obokun and Oriade Federal Constituency, dumped the PDP despite his influence there.

Oke’s defection to the APC is being viewed as a major blow to the PDP, particularly in Osun East, and he is now the Director General of the Oyebamiji campaign council.

In Osun Central, Senator Oluwole Olubiyi also moved to the APC. While the PDP dismisses his political value, Olubiyi is believed to rely on empowerment programmes, constituency projects, bursaries for students, and the employment of many aides who still follow him. Observers say his defection in Osun Central could affect the prospects of the Accord Party in the August election.

In Osun East, additional defections have also been reported from influential localities. These include Hon Sanya Ominrin of the Ijesa South Federal Constituency, and Taofeek Ajilesoro, representing Ife Central Federal Constituency, both described as deeply rooted within their constituencies.

Several additional actors have also reportedly defected to the APC in recent days, including Azeez Kazeem, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Adeleke on the Governor’s Office; Moyoade Lukman, Senior Special Assistant on Market Affairs; Asamo Gbenga, youth leader of the Accord Party in Ife Central; Ojuolape Olagbaju, a House of Representatives aspirant; and Dr Leye Olagbaju, also a House of Representatives aspirant in Ife.

Although some of these figures are not considered highly popular public figures, their influence is said to have been felt because they served as close aides to the governor, particularly given that the defections occurred less than two months before the election.

The growing momentum of defections into the APC notwithstanding, the party may soon face a major challenge if Senator Iyiola Omisore eventually leaves its fold. Reports indicate that around twenty of Omisore’s followers have already resigned from the APC and moved to the Accord Party.

While the impact of these early departures may not yet be fully felt, largely because many are not widely known, analysts warn that if Omisore joins the Accord, as rumours suggest, the election could become more difficult for the APC to win.

Omisore is reportedly aggrieved that he was screened out of the governorship primary and has refused to resolve the matter with party leaders who have reached out to him. While other contestants have reunited with the party’s candidate, Omisore has not only refused to align again, but some of his supporters are reportedly joining the Accord.

Among those said to have defected are Hon Dauda Lawal, former vice chairman of Olaoluwa local government; Famadewa David of Ife Central local government; Hon Bukola Ojuade of Ife East local government; Hon Aleem Bakare of Ejigbo local government; Hon Atanda Rabiu, member of the House of Assembly representing Iwo state constituency; and Hon Taiwo Akeju of Atakumosa East local government, a former Commissioner for Political Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations under Adegboyega Oyetola.

Others named include Abimbola Mutiu of Obokun local government, Otunba Ojo Williams of Obokun local government, Jamiu Olawumi of Ife Central local government, a former Special Adviser to Adegboyega Oyetola on education, Hon Bisi Awowole of Ife East, and Warith Bello of Ede North local government.

A former member of the House of Representatives from Ila, Ifedayo and Boluwaduro local government, Hon Kolawole Ismail, Okunloro Gbemiga of Ayedire local government, Fanawopo Adeniyi of Boluwaduro local government, Adeyeye Martins of Ife East local government, Abdulateef Abiodun of Ede North local government, Rotimi John of Ife East local government, Ogunolu Samsideen of Iwoland local government, Hon Amos Akindiya of Olaoluwa local government and Ayinde Abiola, Local Government Education Authority chairman of Olaoluwa local government, were also said to be among the defectors.

As events unfold, some serving legislators and former aspirants have reportedly joined the APC, while the Accord Party is likely to depend on a big man such as Omisore should he defect officially. For now, defections continue to reshape the political map and the fortunes of the parties heading into the 15 August poll.

The APC, for its part, has dismissed claims that Senator Iyiola Omisore is about to leave the party, insisting that it remains unshaken ahead of the governorship election. The Director of Media and Information of the APC, Kola Olabisi, said the party is not perturbed by the rumours, stressing that it remains focused on achieving its goal through the election.

Olabisi said the party remains unshakeable and focused on the realisation of its main objective through the forthcoming governorship election on 15 August 2026, in which its candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, is strategically positioned to win.

He further argued that political party membership in a democracy allows for both entrance and exit, adding that such movement aligns with Nigeria’s constitutional provisions. According to him, there is free entry and free exit in political parties in any democratic government, in conformity with the relevant portion of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

Olabisi also appealed to politicians who may not share a party’s ideals to throw in the towel rather than work against the party from within. He recalled that the APC, then in opposition, had earlier attracted defectors from the PDP, which he noted has since transformed into the deregistered Accord Party.

He said it remains fresh in the memory of discerning people of Osun State how his party, then in opposition, won to its side two sitting senators, three sitting House of Representatives members and many other leading lights in the defunct PDP, which has now transformed into the deregistered Accord Party.

Addressing the fear that Omisore might defect, Olabisi described it as unconfirmed, saying it remains within the realm of speculation because there has been no direct statement from Omisore himself.

Meanwhile, Hon Sola Isola, a member of the media committee for the Imole Campaign Council, alleged that the purported defections linked to the Accord and aides to Governor Adeleke amount to nothing more than audio defection.

Isola said that at no point did they officially receive a formal letter from any Accord member defecting to another political party, describing such claims as audio defections that are carried out in every political season by merchants of politics. He added that when the Accord received defectors from the APC and the ADC, it held a grand reception at Freedom Park to welcome them with their followers, asking pointedly who these latest defectors were and where their followers could be found.

He maintained that the Accord leadership believes it must stay focused on the election outcome, insisting that its eyes are on the goal and that it cannot be distracted by noisemakers, and that its focus remains on the election, regardless of the audio defections.