The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State has ended its electoral collaboration with Accord following the August 15 governorship election.

The revelation was made by the PDP National Treasurer, Diran Odeyemi, in a statement signed by Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi Ajagunla in Osogbo on Saturday.

Odeyemi said the arrangement between the two parties was specifically tied to the governorship election and would not continue into the 2027 general elections.

The PDP chieftain also declared that the party had begun preparations for the 2027 elections, with its candidates expected to commence campaign activities ahead of the polls.

He disclosed that Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi Ajagunla, representing Osun Central Senatorial District, remained the PDP’s candidate for the district in the 2027 Senate election.

Odeyemi urged PDP members and supporters in the senatorial district to mobilise support for Fadeyi and work towards securing victory for the party at the polls.

According to Odeyemi, “the PDP had deployed its political structure to support Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election bid during the August 15 governorship election, when Adeleke contested under the Accord platform.

“The agreement between the party and Accord ended with the governorship election and now the party is ready to support and work for Senator Ajagunla during the 2027 polls.

“In the Osun Central Senatorial District, Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi Ajagunla is our candidate and the PDP will campaign and work with him.”

Odeyemi also said the end of the arrangement was a matter of party organisation rather than a personal dispute, noting that Accord’s Osun Central senatorial candidate, Gani Olaoluwa, remained his friend.

“The arrangement we had with Accord in Osun has ended with Governor Adeleke’s election. I have been mandated in my capacity as the PDP National Treasurer to deliver the senatorial district for the party,” he said.

Fadeyi, a former member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), recently confirmed his return to the PDP and said he had informed the Senate of his decision.

He also cited the conduct of the APC’s National Assembly primary election for Osun Central as a reason for leaving the party, while reaffirming his candidacy for the 2027 Senate election.

Isa El-Buba, a Plateau-based cleric, says he is now supporting Adewale Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party’s presidential candidate for 2027 because he is a courageous man of consistent character who fought for the SDP’s survival while Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress dumped the Labour Party in crisis.

Mr El-Buba, who rallied support for Mr Obi in 2023, expressed his disappointment in Mr Obi’s leadership in an interview with Mic On on Saturday, explaining why he is now endorsing Mr Adebayo of the SDP.

“From what has happened, Peter Obi has no businesses leaving Labour Party runing here and there. God gave Peter Obi Nigerians. Nigerians paid the price. Nigerians gave their time. Nigerians gave their lives. We suspended our individual projects. Because we needed somebody who does not steal. Based in some of the things he did while he was governor, we gave him the support,” Mr El-Buba said.

Asked if he was “disappointed” in Mr Obi, Mr El-Buba said the former Anambra governor disappointed “in the area of defending his mandate, standing to for this ordinary people who paid the price. People took the shots for Peter Obi.”

Explaining what Mr Obi could have done differently, Mr El-Buba said, “He could have led them. He could have stood. He could jave build that party. He could have stood for the people. A leader would stand and fight. That is why Peter Obi lost so much people who believed in him.”

Out of all presidential candidates, Mr El-Buba said, “I discovered Prince Adewale Adebayo, a young man that is courageous, he stood and fought for SDP survival. He fought in the judiciary to ensure those somersaulting injuctions by court and INEC were cleaned up. I studied his personal life; his consistency, I see he has the character, competence and has the courage.”

A few months ago, Mr El-Buba endorsed the SDP presidential candidate for 2027. However, Mr Obi has yet to address Mr El-Buba’s exit from his political camp.