With just 11 months to the Osun State governorship election and eight weeks to party primaries, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Bureau of Social Services, Chief Akintunde Bello Sherif (ABS), has expressed confidence that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains strong and will secure victory in 2026.
Speaking during an interview on Insightful Moment with Jare Tiamiyu, Bello dismissed concerns over the party’s internal disputes, stressing that crises are not peculiar to the PDP.
“The PDP remains healthier than many imagine despite recent challenges. Even at the federal level, political parties face defections and disagreements. What is happening here is not unique to us,” he said.
He maintained that the PDP allows freedom of expression for its members and had already addressed the vote of no confidence passed on Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, in his hometown of Ile-Ife.
“Our leadership under Hon. Sunday Bisi has engaged stakeholders on the matter. We are on top of the situation. The PDP in Osun enjoys popular mandate and the love of the people,” Sherif added.
Highlighting the party’s resilience, he recalled past defections but insisted that the PDP had always bounced back. “Despite defections and shenanigans, we remain popular. The people of Osun still stand with us,” Sherif declared.
On governance, Sherif said Governor Ademola Adeleke had earned the respect of the workforce and citizens through performance, citing road projects, flyovers, and the completion of dualisation works across Ilesha, Ila, Osogbo, and other areas.
He dismissed claims that Adeleke’s projects favoured certain regions, insisting the administration had touched every part of the state. “Unlike the previous administration that did less than two kilometres of road in Iwo, Adeleke has done over 10 kilometres in the town,” he said.
Bello also accused the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) of spreading propaganda and withholding federal allocations meant for local governments, saying the party was bent on frustrating the people.
He pointed to the establishment of the University of Ilesha as a legacy project that had boosted education in the state, noting that tuition fees were competitive with other institutions.
“We are not distracted. Our focus is on good governance, and come 2026, Osun people will again stand with Governor Adeleke and the PDP,” he affirmed.
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