Osun: Adeleke Govt Faces Growing Strain as Resignations Mount Amidst Looming Defections

The political ground beneath Governor Ademola Adeleke appears to be crumbling fast as a shocking wave of resignations sweeps through his administration, fueling fears that his second-term ambition may already be slipping out of reach.

In what insiders describe as a “full-blown internal collapse,” several top cabinet members and key appointees have quietly dumped their positions, sending panic through the corridors of power in Osogbo.

Among the high-profile exits are Hon. Toba Faseru, the Commissioner for Agriculture, and Hon. Ibukun Fasipe, Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), both influential figures from the Ijesa axis in Osun East. Also caught in the resignation storm is Hon. Abdulgani Ayobami Olaoluwa, Commissioner for Rural Development and Community Affairs from Osun Central, alongside other officials whose departures are still being kept under wraps.

Though the government has yet to issue a formal explanation, multiple sources within the administration are pointing to deepening cracks, mounting pressure, and political uncertainty as driving forces behind the sudden exits.

One top insider, speaking under anonymity, dropped a bombshell:
“What is happening is bigger than what people are seeing. These resignations are not ordinary. There is serious discontent within the government, and many are already jumping ship quietly.”

Another source close to the situation hinted at fear of political fallout ahead of the 2026 governorship election: “Some of them don’t want to go down with the ship. They can read the signs. The situation is not looking good for the governor, and people are making moves to secure their future.”

The unfolding crisis comes at the worst possible time for Adeleke, as reports intensify that no fewer than 18 lawmakers in the Osun State House of Assembly are on the verge of abandoning the Accord Party—widely seen as a key pillar in the governor’s political calculations.

The situation has already taken a dramatic turn with the defection of the lawmaker representing Iwo State Constituency, who has dumped the Accord Party for the All Progressives Congress (APC), triggering what observers fear could become a mass political exodus.

A party source familiar with the looming defections painted a grim picture: “It’s a chain reaction. Once a few people leave, others follow. The lawmakers are not comfortable anymore, and the resignations in government are only making things worse.”

Another insider didn’t mince words about the implications: “If the lawmakers go and more appointees continue to resign, then you are looking at a government that is losing control politically. It’s a dangerous situation.”

With the twin storms of defections and resignations gathering momentum, political analysts say Adeleke’s second-term bid is increasingly hanging by a thread.

What once looked like a manageable political landscape is now turning into a battlefield, with the opposition poised to capitalize on the growing instability.

As one analyst bluntly put it: “At this rate, the governor’s second term is beginning to look like a mirage. Every resignation, every defection weakens his structure. If this continues, it could be game over before the election even begins.”*l

For now, Osun watches as the drama unfolds—one resignation, one defection at a time.