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Says All Defections to Ruling Party Due to Pressure
- Safiu Kehinde
The Osun State Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) chieftain, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has confirmed mounting pressure on the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, to the join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Oyinlola disclosed while speaking on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on Thursday evening.
The former Osun governor accused the APC of imposing enormous pressure on elected officers, including Adeleke, which in effect causes the spiral of mass defection to the ruling party.
Explaining reason behind Adeleke’s reluctance to join the APC despite the pressure and rumours, Oyinlola disclosed that the governor’s defection to the ruling party will put him in dilemma and jeopardise his political future.
He held that the APC’s past administration in the state dd not fare well with Osun people.
“Well, it feels horrible I would say. But the fact that there is always enormous pressure from the ruling party on all the elected officers and that is what is producing this defection up and down.
“Why my governor has not gone was just because he will be in a dilemma. Because APC has not fared well with the people of Osun state and I can say that one anywhere.
“Now telling him to roll over to APC will mean ruining his political future because obviously people will not go along with that. He knows it. But there is pressure on him.” Oyinlola said.
On likelihood of hm also dumping the PDP, the former military and civilian governor held that no amount of pressure can pull him out of the PDP.
“Me? I’m a battle-tested General. No amount of pressure will shift me off my post.” He added.
NPO Reports that Adeleke had been rumoured to be ready to defect to the APC last week, a move reportedly rejected by APC major stakeholders in Osun.
It was gathered that the pressure on Adeleke to move to the APC was being piled from the presidency.
However, it was also learnt that leaders of the party like the former Governor Gboyega Oyetola had convinced the President that the party would not need Adeleke to win the 2026 election.
Oyetola was said to have hinged his assertion on the defection of some members of the national assembly from the PDP to the APC.
Among the senators said to have defected include the senator representing Osun East senatorial district, Francis Fadahunsi and some members of the House of Representatives.
Adeleke himself had given clear hopes that he was moving to the APC. His cabinet members had released a statement last week saying they were ready to join the governor if he moved to the APC.