The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has acknowledged that internal leadership lapses not external political pressure led to the departure of former Osun governorship aspirant, Ademola Adeleke, from the party.
The admission aligns with the growing narrative that PDP admits blame in Adeleke’s defection, a development that has stirred conversations within the party’s hierarchy.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the party failed to tackle the issues that eventually pushed Adeleke to the Accord Party. According to him, Adeleke became “a victim of circumstance” created by unresolved internal problems.
“Every problem has a human cause and therefore should also have a human solution, but decisive action was not taken early enough. If leadership had acted firmly from 2023 when the decline began, the outcome might have been different,” he said. Ememobong also noted that misplaced optimism made the situation worse, as party leaders assumed the tensions around Adeleke’s case would fade with time.
He explained that by the time the party’s convention took firm steps in Ibadan, the situation had already escalated beyond repair. That, he said, left Adeleke burdened with “vicarious liabilities” he could no longer detach himself from.
Addressing comparisons with the situation of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, Ememobong argued that the two cases were unrelated. He maintained that both men had roles in the conflicts that affected them, but insisted that Fubara’s case was distinct because he voluntarily became the party’s candidate and had not disclosed the agreements he entered into.
Ememobong added that the party became concerned when Fubara publicly stated that he no longer felt safe within the PDP. While expressing sympathy for the governor, he criticised attempts to shift blame despite Fubara describing the matter as a “father–son issue.” He likened the situation to “Stockholm syndrome,” where individuals begin to identify with those responsible for their challenges.
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He further said part of the delay in the Rivers legal battle came from the Supreme Court, which lawyers claimed had withheld a hearing date. Ememobong noted that it was difficult for the party to fight for someone who repeatedly discouraged such efforts, adding that “no one can administer an injection to a patient who insists the injection will kill him.”
Despite the internal conflicts, he dismissed claims that the PDP has collapsed. According to him, all political parties experience turbulence because they house competing interests. He stressed that even the ruling party battles its own internal struggles.
Ememobong said the PDP is actively engaging its governors ahead of 2027, but is not begging anyone to stay. He explained that party organs, including the Turaki-led administration and the Governors’ Forum, are reaching out to members across various states.
His remarks further highlight the broader implications of the crisis, reinforcing the ongoing theme that PDP admits blame in Adeleke’s defection as the party reassesses its internal structure and leadership approach.