The political rhythm of Osun State is reaching a crescendo as we gradually march towards the 2026 gubernatorial election.
Amid the chants of ambition, the murmurs of defections, and the shuffle of opportunistic alliances, one truth stands immutable, the people of Osun State have found a dependable leader in Governor Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke.
As the dust of political maneuvering rises, this is a moment of clarity for Osun State; a time for deep reflection, strategic foresight, and collective resolve.
The Zoning Debate: No Going Backward from Justice
In the build-up to 2026, a salient issue dominates strategic discussions is zoning. There is an emerging consensus, unspoken yet deafening, across party lines and stakeholder circles, that no rational opposition party will field a governorship candidate from Osun West to commence another eight-year cycle.
Doing so would betray the spirit of political equity and torch the delicate ethnic harmony binding Osun’s geopolitical tripod.
The Osun West Senatorial District from where the Adeleke dynasty hails has waited patiently.
After years of marginalization, justice found a voice in 2022 with the emergence of Governor Adeleke. Allowing him to complete his conventionally guaranteed eight years is not just a political courtesy, it is a moral imperative. It would be unjust and politically tone-deaf to truncate that tenure and throw the state into another cycle of agitation and imbalance.
From “Benefit of the Doubt” to “Tested and Trusted”In 2022, Osun State gave Adeleke a benefit of the doubt, a trust born out of dissatisfaction with the past and hope for a better future. Three years later, Governor Adeleke is no longer a political experiment. He is a proven leader. His unprecedented developmental strides, road infrastructure, public sector reform, education upgrades, healthcare accessibility, digital economy growth, and worker welfare — speak louder than any campaign promise.
A governor who dances with the people and works for the people is rare. His style may be unconventional, but his results are undeniable. The love Osun citizens show him is not bought, it is earned. He has not just governed; he has connected. The people know who stood by them, listened to them, and lifted them. In 2026, they will stand by him again not out of sentiment, but as a reward for his giant performance.
Political Defections: Bark Without Bite
It is not unexpected that in a climate like ours, some elected officials will chase shadows in the name of political survival. However, the recent defections from PDP to APC, especially among National Assembly members, carry no serious political weight. These individuals rode on the soaring popularity of Governor Adeleke to win their elections. Many of them could not have won a local government chairmanship seat without the governor’s name on the ticket. Their departure only validates a truth long known — that loyalty anchored in self-interest cannot withstand the heat of responsibility. Osun people understand this well. APC remains a party haunted by the sins of its past — a party under whose 12-year rule Osun was buried in debt, hardship, and dysfunction. No number of defections can cleanse that record. It is a party the people rejected, and will reject again.
Third Force or Spent Force?
The idea of a “third force” is laughable in Osun politics. What is being paraded as a third option is nothing more than a faction of disgruntled APC members who couldn’t find common ground with President Tinubu, ex-Governor Oyetola, or one another. Their unity is temporary, driven by bitterness, not ideology. Those encouraging ADC or other platforms to challenge the PDP are chasing shadows. There is no ideological difference, only recycled grievances.PDP leaders are wise not to join their quarrel with the President. As the ruling party in Osun, PDP must govern with maturity, not pettiness. Governor Adeleke is focused on governance, not vendettas and the people see that.
A Presidential Home Front and the Myth of Federal Might
Osun State is the ancestral home of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. While Osun APC is banking on “federal might,” they forget that President Tinubu is a master strategist who knows the importance of political balance and statesmanship. In 2026, he will play the role of a father to all, not a partisan commander-in-chief. And like every father, he knows where the house is standing and where it is shaking.
Adeleke’s hold on Osun is rooted in the grassroots, the source of real might. No federal intervention can uproot a tree planted by the people. Osun APC may boast of Abuja connections, but Adeleke boasts of Iwo, Ife, Ikirun, Ede, Osogbo, and Ilesa. That is where the votes are and that is where the power lies.
Divine Mandate and the Path of Providence
From the tragic loss of his brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, to becoming a senator, to his emergence as governor, Adeleke’s journey is a testament to divine orchestration. His story is beyond calculations, beyond human plotting. He is a man chosen by destiny, rising when many expected him to fall, and shining when others sought to dim his light.
No man can fight what God has blessed. His reelection is not just politically strategic, it is spiritually aligned. It is not a fight for Adeleke alone; it is a movement for continuity, stability, justice, and progress.Cross-Carpeting: A House of Cards
The current wave of defections to the APC is not a tsunami, it is a mirage. These defectors are not shaking the foundations of Osun PDP; they are exposing the fragility of their own ambitions. APC has reached its saturation point and now it will begin to crack under the weight of conflicting interests. What unites them today will scatter them tomorrow. Those who wait will soon see their house of cards fall apart.The realignment of power in Osun is almost complete. The people have found a home in PDP, and a leader in Governor Adeleke. All that remains is to stay the course and not be distracted by the noise of those who failed the people once and now seek a second chance without remorse.
Conclusion: Let Osun Decide Wisely
History is knocking.
The people of Osun must answer not with confusion, not with regret, but with clarity. Governor Ademola Adeleke represents tested leadership, emotional intelligence, grassroots connection, and divine favour. Let no gimmick, no defection, no propaganda disturb the momentum we have built.Let Osun State rise and reject those who once sold her dreams for personal gain. Let us unite to complete the circle of justice. Let us allow Adeleke finish his eight years and then hand over power to another deserving zone in peace and unity.The path ahead is clear. The choice is ours. Let us choose wisely.
Comr. Alalade Bukola Felix is a public affairs analyst, grassroots politician, and advocate of good governance in Osun State.
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