Breaking News: Former Osun SSG Moshood Adeoti Dumps Aregbesola Camp, Quits ADC as Party Picks Najeem Salam as 2026 Governorship Candidate
Former Secretary to the Osun State Government, Moshood Adeoti, has formally withdrawn his allegiance to former governor Rauf Aregbesola and exited the African Democratic Congress (ADC), following growing tensions over the party’s 2026 governorship ticket.
Adeoti’s exit comes amid reports that the ADC leadership has chosen former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Najeem Salam, as its preferred governorship candidate. The development reportedly triggered discontent among Adeoti and Senator Lere Oriolowo, both of whom hail from Iwo in Osun West.
Adeoti, who served under Aregbesola during his administration, first left the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2018 to contest the governorship election on the platform of the African Democratic Party (ADP), where he polled 49,745 votes. He later returned to the APC in 2020 during the height of the political rift between Aregbesola and former governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
Ahead of the 2022 governorship election, Adeoti emerged as Aregbesola’s preferred aspirant in the APC, a decision that unsettled members of The Osun Progressives (TOP) and intensified internal party tensions. His political trajectory shifted again when he, alongside Salam, Senator Oriolowo and others, was later suspended from the APC over alleged anti-party activities. The affected politicians subsequently formed the Omoluabi Progressives bloc under Aregbesola’s direction before defecting to the ADC.
Reports had indicated that leaders of the Omoluabi Progressives were advocating that the ADC’s 2026 governorship ticket be zoned to Osun West. However, fresh indications emerged over the weekend that the party hierarchy had settled on Salam as its consensus candidate, sidelining Adeoti and further widening internal divisions.
Reacting to the development, Adeoti formally withdrew from Aregbesola’s political camp, the Omoluabi Progressives and the ADC. In a letter dated November 30, 2025, and personally signed by him, he wrote:
“I, Alhaji Moshood Olalekan Adeoti, the Deputy Leader of Omoluabi Progressives in Osun State, hereby tender this letter of withdrawal from the group, which I co-founded with other progressive-minded individuals across the state.”
Adeoti described the move as a difficult but necessary decision, noting the emotional and financial investments he had made toward sustaining the group since its formation. He added that his family had urged him to step back and take a temporary break from political activities.
“My decision to withdraw was never an easy one, especially each time I looked back and considered all my investments into ensuring the survival of the group throughout its turbulent period from its inception to date,” Adeoti wrote.
He expressed appreciation to members of the Omoluabi Progressives for the trust they placed in him and wished the current leadership success in its future activities.
His withdrawal marks another major shift in Osun State’s evolving political landscape ahead of the 2026 governorship contest.