The Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Muniru Raji, has criticised former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, describing him as the weakest possible opponent in the forthcoming 2026 governorship election.
Raji, who made this known in a podcast, Lero Temi, in Osogbo, added that Oyetola, who is the current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, would be soundly defeated if he should be adopted as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2026 Osun Governorship Election.
He made this known on the backdrop of the clarification of the defection rumour involving Governor Adeleke and the adoption of President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State.
He said, “Adegboyega Oyetola is the easiest candidate to defeat in any guber election. If the APC decides to make him their flag bearer, I assure you that Governor Adeleke will defeat him soundly once again.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke defeated him in 2022. If he comes out again in 2026, Governor Adeleke will defeat him once again.”
Raji also disclosed that Governor Adeleke has no intention of defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), despite recent political developments in the state.
Raji, who held that defections from political parties are normal occurrences in Nigerian politics, added that when Adeleke assumed office as governor, all elected political office holders were members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Defection is normal. But I want you to know that when Adeleke became governor, the PDP did not have any elected political office holder in office but the APC,” he said.
He emphasised that the loyalty of the electorate outweighs the importance of elected officials.
Raji noted that the voters have continued to express their support for Adeleke and his re-election ambitions.
“The elected political office holders are not as important as the electorates. They have been backing Adeleke since 2018, 2022, and even now, ahead of the 2026 governorship election, we have their solid backing.
“The electorates have assured us of their votes. Those that have resigned from the party have their reasons for leaving. Maybe they have seen that their ambition is more important than those of the electorates that voted for them,” he added.
While confirming Governor Adeleke’s plan to seek re-election under the PDP in the 2026 governorship election, Raji said, “Adeleke will contest again under the PDP in 2026.”
He also dismissed the alleged internal crisis within the national leadership of the PDP, particularly the issue involving the position of the party’s National Secretary.
“The issues with the PDP at the national level with reference to the National Secretary have been resolved. They have resolved to work with the candidate that the Independent National Electoral Commission recognised. So, Adeleke is not leaving the PDP.”
Addressing speculations that the governor had met with APC chieftains regarding a possible defection, Raji firmly denied such claims.
“I can assure you that Adeleke did not meet with any APC members,” he stated.
Raji, however, stated that Governor Adeleke and the PDP in Osun would support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“In 2027, Adeleke and the PDP will vote for APC and Tinubu as President. This is because the president is losing his support base in the North. We are voting because Tinubu is a Yoruba man from the South.”
