- Anxiety as Adeleke romances Aregbesola, pays ‘courtesy’ visit to ex-gov
- Factions predict what may play out as another election beckons
As the people of Osun State eagerly await Governor Ademola Adeleke’s scorecard at the end of his tenure in office, political alignment and realignment have commenced among major political parties in the state ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
Consequently, tongues have started wagging following a courtesy visit to a former governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola by the incumbent Governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke.
While Adeleke is of the ruling People’s Democratic Party in the state, Aregbesola belongs to a faction of the All Progressives Congress.
At the weekend, video clips emerged on the internet showing Adeleke, who was accompanied by a handful of key government functionaries with Aregbesola.
It was gathered that the governor paid a courtesy visit to the immediate past Minister of Interior at his Ilesa residence.
In the videos sighted by The Point, Adeleke warmly exchanged pleasantries with Aregbesola before the latter led the governor into his apartment.
Some other key political figures from both sides were also seen exchanging greetings amid apparent camaraderie.
Ahead of the 2026 governorship election in Osun State, political permutations have been heightened as political bigwigs from the major political parties have started cross-carpeting.
Just recently, a former National Deputy Chairman of the PDP, Shuaib Oyedokun, and former governorship aspirant in the party, Dotun Babayemi, dumped the party and joined the APC in Osun State.
The APC in the state has been blaming Aregbesola for its failure in the last governorship election in the state, alleging that the former governor colluded with Adeleke and PDP to deny Gboyega Oyetola the chances of getting a second term in office.
With Adeleke’s deeper romance with Aregbesola, about two years to another gubernatorial poll, political watchers have said the same touted political tactics used in 2022 would be repeated by Adeleke and Aregbesola.
Although what the duo discussed at their meeting was yet to be made public, some keen political followers have read different meanings to their relationship despite their political party differences and what may play out as another election beckons.
Reacting to the meeting on his X handle, Balogun Ridwan said, “This shows nothing but a realistic fact that PDP is not a firm party in Osun State and both APC and PDP are in the market to sign new stakeholders on board.
“I think PDP has lost two (Oyedokun and Babayemi) some weeks back and Baba Aregbesola is a big fish that can’t be joked with as far as Osun is concerned.”
For Gabriel Adeyemi, “2026 politicking has started like that…”
Also commenting, Abiola Kolawole said, “Dotun Babayemi will hear it in 2026
Let them keep fooling themselves.”
Makinde Oluwatobi, in his assessment, stated that, “Adeleke don’t want to lose Aregbesola because of second term and APC is giving Aregbesola big problem, asking him to leave their party but major determinant of Osun election is Aregbesola because he is a grassroots’ mobiliser and has tentacles across all boards.”
In his remarks, Jola Wale, opined that, “Aregbesola can’t do more than what he did at the last election (spoiler), so, no big deal if he supports Adeleke again.”
A commentator, who identified himself as IamOlukitibi, pointed out that, “Oyetola won’t sleep tonight again… You guys have spoiled Sallah for him….he will soon run to meet his daddy asking him to save him.”