Speculation over a fresh wave of defections from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has intensified following a high-profile meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and two PDP governors — Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State — at the President’s private residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday.
Governor Adeleke, accompanied by his influential brother, businessman Dr. Deji Adeleke, and popular Afrobeat musician David Adeleke (Davido), reportedly discussed wide-ranging political issues with President Tinubu, including the 2026 Osun governorship race and the broader 2027 general elections.
The meeting — coming in the wake of withheld local government allocations to Osun for three consecutive months — has stirred political tension, especially following Adeleke’s recent engagement with APC chieftain and former Osun Governor, Chief Bisi Akande. The sequence of events has triggered speculation that Adeleke may be considering a dramatic shift to the APC, a move that could significantly alter the political landscape in the South-West.
Adeleke, who ended the APC’s 12-year grip on Osun in 2022 and delivered the state wholesale to the PDP in the 2023 general elections, is considered a rising political heavyweight in the region. His potential defection would represent a strategic gain for Tinubu and a considerable setback for the PDP.
Internal Cracks and Political Bargains
Sources close to the Presidency revealed to Hobnob News that Adeleke may be seeking assurances from Tinubu that the federal government would not interfere in his 2026 re-election bid in exchange for his support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign. Adeleke’s recent visit to the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, is being interpreted as part of these broader negotiations.
However, the Osun APC appears unreceptive. Former State Assembly Speaker, Timothy Owoeye, declared there was “no space” for Adeleke within the party, warning that “the APC ticket is not for sale.”
In response, PDP’s Osun spokesperson, Oladele Bamiji, described the APC’s panic as “naivety and arrogance,” while Adeleke’s aide, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, dismissed the defection rumours as “fake news,” affirming that the governor remains a “bonafide member and leader of the PDP in Osun.”
Still, Adeleke’s conspicuous absence during PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s recent visit to Osun — where Atiku met with former Interior Minister and Tinubu ally, Rauf Aregbesola — has heightened suspicion of internal fissures within the state PDP.
Fubara’s Visit Deepens Rivers Crisis Calculations
In a parallel development, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s presence at the Tinubu meeting has sparked further intrigue. His visit follows escalating tensions with his predecessor and political godfather, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, whose loyalists control the State Assembly and have revived impeachment threats.
Although President Tinubu brokered a temporary truce between both factions in December 2023, recent political developments have renewed hostilities. Analysts believe Fubara may be seeking Tinubu’s intervention to secure political survival and federal backing against Wike’s entrenched influence.
“Efforts are ongoing to mediate,” former Ogun Governor Olusegun Osoba confirmed to Hobnob News. “The discussions were cordial, but the details remain private.”
Sources suggest Fubara could be weighing a quiet alignment with the APC or a pro-Tinubu bloc, in exchange for lifting federal constraints and resolving legislative hostilities.
PDP’s National Fragility Exposed
The potential loss of Adeleke and Fubara adds to the PDP’s mounting woes. The party, which lost Governors David Umahi (Ebonyi), Ben Ayade (Cross River), and Bello Matawalle (Zamfara) to the APC before the 2023 elections, now faces renewed internal discord.
The unresolved crisis over the PDP’s National Secretary position, coupled with perceived neglect of southern PDP governors, has left several leaders disillusioned. A party insider told Hobnob News, “If PDP continues to marginalize its stronghold governors, it risks a full-blown exodus before 2027.”
Saraki Aims to Steady the Ship
Meanwhile, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, chair of the PDP Reconciliation Committee, has admitted that defections remain a threat. Speaking in Ilorin after re-registering with the PDP, Saraki expressed confidence in the party’s revival but acknowledged the ongoing turbulence.
“We know some may leave, but others will join us,” Saraki said. “Our National Executive Committee has met, and another is scheduled. We’re taking this time to rebuild and reconnect with our base.”
Maku Denies Benue Defection Rumours
In a related twist, former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, denied reports suggesting he was facilitating the defection of Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia to the PDP. Maku said his recent involvement in the “Good Governance Tour” was strictly non-partisan and aimed at promoting development focus among political leaders.
With 2026 and 2027 elections looming, Adeleke and Fubara’s political choices could reshape the balance of power nationally. Whether their meeting with Tinubu marks the beginning of a formal realignment or remains a tactical courtship, the implications are profound for a PDP already on the defensive.
For now, both governors remain silent on their long-term intentions — but the political chessboard is clearly in motion.
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