Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has defended his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Accord Party, describing the move as necessary to safeguard his personal security and the stability of the state.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Adeleke said he did not abandon the PDP, which he still holds in high regard, but chose to prioritise continuity in Osun’s development.

“It’s not true that I abandoned PDP. I love PDP, but I have to protect myself.

“I have to make sure I protect my state because of the good work we’ve been doing so that we can continue,” he said.

Adeleke joined the Accord Party on Tuesday after resigning from the PDP, the platform on which he won the 2022 governorship election.

He secured the AP governorship ticket on Wednesday.

He will face candidates from the All Progressives Congress, PDP and the coalition in the African Democratic Party in what is expected to be a decisive contest for his political future.

Reacting to concerns that contesting under a less popular party could affect his re-election chances, Adeleke expressed confidence that his performance in office would earn him a second term in the 2026 governorship election.

The governor said residents of the state are “wiser” and understand the difference between “good governance and bad governance,” arguing that the election would be decided by candidates, not political parties.

“Osun people are wiser. They know the difference between good governance and bad governance, and they have decided to toe the Imole path; it is me they are talking about.

“We are not even talking about parties right now; the party is just the platform. And when they compare the records of what my predecessor has done, and they compare [them] with my own records, they have suffered a lot in terms of unpaid salary.

“I came in, I brought hope, I brought light to Osun State. So, my records, first of all, will speak for themselves,” he said.

Adeleke said he is not worried about “federal might,” noting that he won the 2022 governorship election while in the opposition and expects to repeat that feat in 2026.

“Well, I believe our president is a democrat. He’s been in this position [opposition] before. When he was in opposition, I learned a lot from him, too.

“He stood his ground, despite the fact that he was in opposition, and he still won. So why can’t I do that?

“I was in the opposition when I won last time, and it’s not going to be different,” he added.

Adeleke added that the “people will decide,” saying he is confident voters will return him to office “because of my track record” and their desire for continuity.

At least seven Osun State governorship aspirants from the All Progressives Congress (APC) have withdrawn from the race following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday.

They have all agreed to support Bola Oyebamiji as the consensus governorship candidate in the forthcoming primary.

The meeting, called by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, was boycotted by one of the aspirants, Iyiola Omisore.

Omisore had earlier described his disqualification from the primary as a joke.

The aspirants who stepped down include former Deputy Governor Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke, Babatunde Haketer Oralusi, and Mulikat Abiola Jimoh.

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has addressed the controversy sparked by her comments to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke during the 10th coronation anniversary of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.

The incident, which sparked public debate, occurred on Sunday at the Ile-Ife palace, where Mrs Tinubu was conferred with the traditional title of Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua.

While Governor Adeleke was giving his goodwill message and offering tributes to the monarch and the First Lady, Mrs Tinubu interrupted the governor with a firm directive.

“Enough with the music, or I’ll switch off the microphone,” she said, instructing the governor to “conclude in five minutes.”

The remark, delivered on stage in full view of dignitaries, was met with mixed reactions online, with critics accusing the First Lady of disrespect.

In her response posted on her verified Facebook page on Tuesday, Mrs Tinubu shared a photo of herself with Governor Adeleke from the event, dismissing the outrage as overblown.

“Those entrusted with leadership understand their duties and how to steer the affairs of society. More often, it is the followers and critics who scrutinise every step, amplify minor missteps, and turn them into needless controversy,” she wrote.