Osogbo, Osun State – Muniru Raji, the Special Adviser on Political Matters to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has declared that former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola stands no chance of reclaiming the governorship seat in the 2026 elections.
Speaking on the Lero Temi podcast in Osogbo, Raji described Oyetola, who currently serves as Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, as “the easiest candidate to defeat” and confidently dismissed concerns about Adeleke’s re-election bid.
“Adegboyega Oyetola is the easiest candidate to defeat in any gubernatorial election,” Raji said. “If the APC decides to make him their flag bearer, I assure you that Governor Adeleke will defeat him soundly once again.”
He emphasized that Adeleke, who defeated Oyetola in the 2022 election, would easily do so again if the former governor runs under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2026.
Amid recent speculations that Governor Adeleke might defect to the APC following his public endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for re-election in 2027, Raji made it clear that the governor remains loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“He did not meet with any APC members. There is no plan to defect. Adeleke is staying put in the PDP,” Raji stated.
Addressing the internal crisis within the PDP, particularly surrounding the position of the National Secretary, Raji noted that the issues had been resolved.
“They have resolved to work with the candidate recognised by INEC. So, Adeleke is not leaving the PDP,” he added.
Responding to concerns over defections by some political appointees in the state, Raji insisted that the PDP’s strength lies in its grassroots support, not political office holders.
“Defection is normal. But I want you to know that when Adeleke became governor, the PDP did not have any elected political office holder in office. The elected political office holders are not as important as the electorate. They have been backing Adeleke since 2018, 2022, and even now ahead of 2026,” he said.
In a notable political stance, Raji also revealed that while Governor Adeleke and the Osun PDP would not defect to the APC, they intend to support President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 for regional solidarity reasons.
“In 2027, Adeleke and the PDP will vote for APC and Tinubu as President. This is because the president is losing his support base in the North. We are voting because Tinubu is a Yoruba man from the South,” he explained.
