Ahead of the August 15 gubernatorial poll in Osun, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday, endorsed Governor Ademola Adeleke as its candidate for the election.

This was just as Adeleke, the flag-bearer of the Accord, disclosed that his resignation from the PDP was informed by the need to avoid being trapped and unable to realise his re-election ambition.

Speaking at the enlarged stakeholders’ meeting of the PDP in Osogbo, the Osun State chairman of the party, Sunday Bisi, lamented that the crisis that rocked the party at the national level was allowed to fester, preventing the production of a candidate for the forthcoming poll.

He said, “Let me say this clearly, boldly, and without apology: The PDP in Osun State will not allow a national leadership dispute to truncate the destiny of our people. We will not allow ego and technicalities to reverse the progress of Osun.

“That is why, after wide consultations with our elders, stakeholders, leaders across the three senatorial districts, and after careful consideration of the overriding interest of Osun people, the Osun State Chapter of the PDP hereby directs all our structures, from the polling units to the wards, from the wards to the local governments, and from the local governments to the state executive committee, to move en masse and give total, unalloyed, and uncompromising support to the re-election of Governor Ademola Adeleke under the platform of the Accord. This is not a compromise of values.

“It is a defence of progress. It is not a retreat. It is a strategic advance for the sake of Osun State. Your Excellency, in just over three years, you have rewritten the governance narrative of this state. From the massive road infrastructure transforming our cities, in Osogbo, Ilesa, Ile-Ife, Ede, Iwo, Ila and other constituent communities, to the comprehensive primary healthcare revolution that has attracted global recognition and cumulative one million dollar cash awards,” Bisi posited.

In his remark, Adeleke, who expressed his love for the PDP, said he decided to leave the party in order to escape being trapped in his re-election bid, stressing that “I confided in some of our leaders that I trust, we started consulting and praying to God over it. We were guided to the Accord Party. You see that the party is first on the ballot.

He stated, “I want to urge all of you that by August 15, you should vote massively for the Accord Party, then victory is guaranteed for us. I thank the PDP family because I am part of it. I thank you all for the endorsement of today and accept it wholeheartedly. I want to thank the Accord Party for accepting me.”