Olagunsoye Oyinlola backs Oyebamiji in Osun, as his PDP faction turns against Governor Ademola Adeleke ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
OSOGBO, OSUN STATE — Olagunsoye Oyinlola has backed Bola Oyebamiji, as a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party led by the former Osun governor endorsed the APC candidate on Sunday, August 9, ahead of the August 15 governorship election. The group said poor inclusion in government influenced its decision.
The endorsement gives Oyebamiji another political boost less than a week before Osun voters head to the polls. Oyinlola, who governed the state between 1999 and 2003, said the group had decided to support the APC candidate because it believed Osun needed a different direction after what it described as a lack of inclusiveness under the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Oyinlola made the declaration in Osogbo alongside former Secretary to the Osun State Government Fatai Akinbade and former PDP National Vice Chairman, South-West, Tajudeen Oladipo. He stressed, however, that the decision did not amount to defection from the PDP, saying members of the group remained within the party while exercising their political choice for the governorship election.
The former governor described the decision as one driven by necessity, conviction and what he called a sincere desire to advance the interests of Osun residents. According to him, the group initially invested political energy in the PDP project but became dissatisfied when it believed the government stopped carrying party stakeholders and other leaders along in its decision-making.
“We remain PDP members. We are not here to announce our defection from the PDP.”
Oyinlola said the group still identified with the PDP but had chosen to support Oyebamiji because it believed the APC candidate offered the state a different direction. He also urged the candidate to avoid the same problem the group complained about, asking him to run an inclusive government that would give every part of Osun a sense of representation.
The former governor listed good governance, economic development, infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment and job opportunities among the areas he expects Oyebamiji to prioritise if elected. He said the APC candidate must put residents first and listen to political stakeholders and communities across the state.
Akinbade and Oladipo also urged PDP members across Osun to vote for Oyebamiji, saying their decision did not come from personal interest. Their endorsement is significant because Oyinlola has remained an influential figure within Osun politics, while the state PDP has faced internal disagreements since Adeleke left the party for the Accord Party to seek another term.
Adeleke left the PDP in December 2025 and is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party. The move created a complicated political situation for the PDP, with different factions taking opposing positions on whether to support the governor or pursue another candidate. In February, PDP lawmakers in Osun publicly endorsed Adeleke despite his departure from the party.
The latest endorsement therefore adds another layer to an already crowded Osun political contest. The APC has positioned Oyebamiji as its main challenger to Adeleke, while the governor has repeatedly expressed confidence in retaining his seat. INEC rescheduled the election to August 15, 2026, after initially fixing August 8 for the poll.
Oyebamiji welcomed the endorsement and said the growing support for his candidacy would help the APC secure victory. He said he had visited all local government areas in the state several times and claimed to have received support from different groups, including artisans, traders, teachers, women and other residents.
The APC candidate also accepted the demands raised by Oyinlola’s group, particularly the call for an inclusive administration. Oyebamiji promised that, if elected, he would not disappoint those who supported his ambition and would work with stakeholders to advance Osun’s interests.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola, a former Osun governor and APC figure, welcomed Oyinlola’s endorsement. Oyetola described Oyinlola as an experienced grassroots politician and urged residents to remain peaceful as the election approaches. The APC has continued to present Oyebamiji as the candidate capable of taking over from Adeleke.
Newstridez reviewed the latest statements from the Oyinlola faction alongside the wider Osun political developments and found that the endorsement does not represent a formal PDP defection. The group has specifically maintained its PDP membership while directing its electoral support to the APC candidate, making the development more of an internal political realignment than a full party switch.
The development also comes as political tension rises across Osun ahead of the poll. Adeleke’s campaign has accused opponents of moves capable of disrupting the election, while the governor and Oyebamiji have continued to trade accusations and claims over the strength of their respective campaigns. Security and the conduct of the election have also become major issues in the final days before voting.
For voters, the immediate question is whether Oyinlola’s backing can translate into actual votes for Oyebamiji on August 15. The former governor’s faction has called on its supporters to vote for the APC candidate, but the final impact will depend on how many PDP members and sympathisers follow that directive at the polling units. Oyinlola backs Oyebamiji, but Adeleke’s camp still has the opportunity to respond as the final campaign hours unfold.
