Tension is mounting ahead of the 2026 Osun State governorship election after a claim that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not feature on the ballot.
The Chairman of the Accord Party in Osun State, Victor Akande, made the assertion during a media interaction in Osogbo organised by the Veteran Journalists Association of Osun State.
Akande maintained that the PDP would not be among the parties contesting the August 8, 2026 election, insisting that the matter was settled and beyond debate.
“To the best of my knowledge, the umbrella will not appear on the ballot paper on August 8, 2026,” he said.
He also dismissed reports of internal division within the Accord Party, stressing that the party remains united despite controversies surrounding its primaries.
“There is no crisis in our party. Before Senator Ademola Adeleke joined us, there was no faction. Those talking about factions, where were they during our primaries in Ekiti and Anambra states?” Akande asked.
According to him, the emergence of a rival faction only occurred after Adeleke joined the party, adding that the agenda of those behind it had become clear.
“Why did a faction suddenly emerge only after Ademola Adeleke joined? We know those behind these so-called factions. One of their leaders even came out openly when their plans failed,” he said.
Akande also rejected claims that the Accord Party lacks political strength, pointing to its past electoral achievements and current relevance.
“You cannot call Accord a non-performing party. In the past, former Oyo State governor Rashidi Ladoja contested under our platform and won four House of Representatives seats and 18 House of Assembly seats. Today, we have a sitting governor in our party. How can such a party be described as non-performing?” he stated.
He disclosed that the party has already commenced preparations for Adeleke’s re-election bid, with grassroots mobilisation structures in place across the state.
“We have set up a grassroots mobilisation committee to reach every part of Osun State. We are working tirelessly to ensure that the people vote massively for Ademola Adeleke, the performing governor,” Akande added.
The PDP, however, swiftly dismissed Akande’s claims.
The Osun PDP Caretaker Secretary, Seyi Bamidele, described the statement as misleading and without basis, insisting that the party has met all requirements to participate in the election.
“How can a party with structures across the state be excluded from the August 8 governorship election? Let me state clearly that the PDP will be on the ballot. We have fulfilled all necessary conditions,” Bamidele said.
He expressed confidence in the party’s chances, noting that it still enjoys widespread support in Osun State.
“People believe in the PDP. They will vote for us, and we will win the election,” he added.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the controversy followed the emergence of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the Accord Party’s governorship candidate in December 2025. Shortly after, a faction of the party conducted a parallel primary in Osogbo and announced Clement Bamigbola as its candidate.
The national leadership of the Accord Party later affirmed Adeleke as its authentic candidate for the Osun governorship race.
Adeleke had earlier withdrawn from the PDP just hours before its primary election. Despite his exit, the PDP went ahead with the exercise and produced Adebayo Adedamola as its governorship candidate.
