The surprise visit by the Interim National Secretary of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a stalwart of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his country home at Okuku, Odo Otin local government, on Sunday evening seems to be generating controversy in Osun State political circles.
It would be recalled that pictures of the August visit went viral on social media on Monday, fuelling speculations among politicians and concerned people that Aregbesola’s visit cannot be unconnected with the unfolding political scenario in the country.
More so, Aregbesola declared his commitment to unseat Governor Ademola Adeleke through the ballot in the August 2026 governorship election in Osun State at the reception organised for him by the Omoluwabi Progressives in Osogbo.
Although the discussion between the two former governors of the state was sketchy as of the time of filing this report, the reaction of people privy to the meeting said the visit is part of savvy political moves being made by Aregbesola to win big wig politicians to the ADC to wrest power from ruling political parties in the state and federal levels.
They opined that the desperation of Aregbesola, then of the Action Congress of Nigeria, who truncated the second term bid of Oyinlola of the Peoples Democratic Party after a protracted legal battle, may have prompted him to seek political realignment with Oyinlola.
Observers reminisced that Oyinlola defected from the Peoples Democratic Party following the internal wrangling within his party and pitched his tent with Aregbesola in a relationship that could not be sustained.
Aregbesola, since the assumption of office, along with chieftains of the African Democratic Congress, have been mobilising across the country to woo members into the coalition party.
Sources at the meeting who spoke with journalists on condition of anonymity said Aregbesola urged his predecessor to join the ADC.
Oyinlola was said to have appreciated him for the visit.
Confirming the visit, Osun ADC chairman Charles Omidiji said he was aware of Aregbesola’s meeting with Oyinlola.
A report in the Punch Newspapers quoted Omidiji as saying, “I am aware of the meeting. It’s part of politics. I didn’t attend the meeting. I am currently in Abuja. But politics is a game of numbers.
“Don’t completely rule out the possibility of big members of PDP moving to APC. We are all looking for people to make victory easy for us.”
According to him, ADC leaders were working on getting more political stalwarts to defect into its fold, adding that, “Many of them are coming. I can tell you for free.”
Oyinlola, last week, while appearing on Arise TV, frowned on Governor Ademola Adeleke’s rumoured planned defection to the All Progressives Congress, saying that it would have an adverse effect on the governor.
While confirming that the pressure on the governor persisted, Oyinlola dismissed any notion that he might be considering defection, describing himself as “a battle-tested general.”
He said, “No amount of pressure will shake me off my post,” boasting of his experience as a former military administrator, a civilian governor, and a PDP national secretary.
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