Former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has reassured members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state that the party remains strong despite the recent defection of Governor Ademola Adeleke to the Accord Party.
Oyinlola gave the assurance on Thursday while addressing party stakeholders at a meeting held in Osogbo. The gathering was attended by the party’s caretaker Chairman and Secretary in Osun, Tunde Tijani and Seyi Bamidele, respectively, as well as former Secretary to the State Government, Fatai Akinbade, and ex-PDP South-West Vice Chairman, Taju Oladipo.
However, appointed and elected public office holders in the state were noticeably absent.
Addressing party members drawn from all 30 local government areas and the Ife East Area Office, Oyinlola said the meeting was convened to clarify misconceptions about the status of the PDP at both the national and state levels.
“There have been confusing narratives about the PDP, especially in Osun State,” he said. “What we have done is to clearly explain the true situation to our members so that everyone understands where the party stands.”
Responding to claims that the PDP in Osun had collapsed its structure into the Accord Party to support Adeleke’s future governorship ambition, Oyinlola dismissed the suggestion.
“The PDP is a party with deep roots across the country. We will not allow it to die in our time,” he declared. “We are holding firmly to the PDP. If tomorrow our governor decides to return to his political family, he is welcome. But as it stands, the PDP remains strong in Osun.”
Also speaking at the meeting, Osun PDP Caretaker Chairman Tunde Tijani denied rumours of any merger or alliance with the Accord Party. He announced that the new leadership would soon embark on a tour of local government areas ahead of the party’s planned congress.
“We will constitute caretaker committees at the local government and ward levels pending the state congress,” Tijani explained. “The PDP stands firmly and has not colluded with the Accord Party.”
The PDP in Osun has been grappling with internal uncertainty since Adeleke’s defection. Following his exit, the party’s State Working Committee led by Sunday Bisi was dissolved by the PDP National Working Committee and replaced with a caretaker committee. However, the Bisi-led executives rejected the dissolution, insisting they remain the constitutionally recognised leadership of the party in the state.
Despite the internal tensions, party leaders at Thursday’s meeting maintained that the PDP structure in Osun remains intact and operational.