PDP Osun coalition denial sparks emotional defence of Adeleke’s loyalty

Oreoluwa Ojelabi July 3, 2025

PDP Osun coalition denial confirms Adeleke’s loyalty as Osun PDP chair insists party remains intact despite Atiku-led alliance ahead of 2027 polls

The PDP Osun coalition denial has sparked renewed confidence in the party’s internal cohesion, as Osun State party Chairman, Mr Sunday Bisi, firmly dismissed any suggestion that Governor Ademola Adeleke was part of the new Atiku-led alliance ahead of the 2027 general election.

Also read: OSUN PDP seeks direction from Governor Adeleke as senators endorse Tinubu for second term

Bisi’s statement followed the recent unveiling of a political coalition fronted by former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The coalition, announced under the banner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has been widely interpreted as an effort to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming national elections.

However, in a swift and clear response, Mr Bisi reiterated the unwavering commitment of Governor Adeleke to the PDP, dispelling speculation of his involvement in the emerging bloc.

“We remain with PDP. Governor Ademola Adeleke also remain in the PDP. We are in PDP, we are not going anywhere. I can assure you, we are not going anywhere,” he said in an emotionally charged reaffirmation of party unity.

His words came amid rising public discourse about the potential strength of the Atiku-led coalition. Bisi clarified that while the right to political association remains a democratic freedom, Osun PDP has no ties to the newly announced movement.

“We are in a democracy. Before APC came to power in 2016, they also formed a coalition. There’s nothing wrong with those people coming together to form a coalition against it,” Bisi said, acknowledging the political legitimacy of such alliances.

Nonetheless, he was quick to draw a firm line between the PDP in Osun and the coalition of opposition figures under Atiku’s leadership.

His response served not only as a reassurance to PDP loyalists but also as a subtle critique of Atiku’s political pattern.

In a more scathing tone, Bisi reacted to Atiku’s earlier remarks suggesting that the PDP lacked the strength to secure electoral victory.

According to Bisi, the former Vice President’s credibility on party matters is compromised by his history of political migration.

“I did not agree with Atiku Abubakar that the PDP is weak and cannot win an election,” he said, dismissing the assessment as unfounded. “This will not be the first time Atiku has left PDP, and PDP won the election in his absence.”

Bisi’s defence of the PDP’s electoral strength reinforces internal confidence as the party navigates a period of uncertainty.

His message was clearly aimed at maintaining party discipline while preventing the erosion of grassroots support in Osun, a state often viewed as a PDP stronghold.

Governor Adeleke, though yet to issue a personal response, has remained visibly active in PDP engagements within and beyond Osun.

Sources close to the governor confirm his alignment with the party’s national leadership, further cementing Bisi’s public remarks.

Observers note that the rejection of the coalition by the Osun PDP may signal deeper fractures within the broader opposition landscape, where multiple interests and ambitions often collide.

While the idea of a united opposition appeals to many Nigerians, real unity may prove more elusive.

Despite rising uncertainty over the PDP’s national cohesion, the party appears resolved to maintain a firm grip in states like Osun, where loyalty to party structures remains relatively intact.