According to Oyinlola, “we were among the major stakeholders who worked tirelessly towards the emergence of the present administration under the platform of the PDP.

“Politics is temporary, but Osun State is permanent. Political parties may change, political alliances may change, administrations may come and go, but the people of Osun will remain. Our responsibility as leaders is therefore to make decisions that will protect the future of our people.

“We believed in that project. We supported it. We mobilised our people for it. We invested our time, energy and political capital in it because we believed that it represented the aspirations of our people. Unfortunately, along the line, things began to fall apart.

“One of the major issues that have created this unfortunate situation, in our considered view, is the lack of inclusiveness in the governance of our state. We believe strongly that no party or government can succeed sustainably when it does not carry its people and leaders along, “he stated.

While clarifying that they still remained members of the PDP, Oyinlola added: “Our membership of the PDP is not in question. We are proud members of the party, and we acknowledge the sacrifices, contributions and struggles that have brought the PDP to where it is today.

“However, being members of a political party does not mean that we should abandon our conscience or the larger interest of the people we have served.

Party loyalty is important, but the interest of Osun State must always come first.

“Rather, we are exercising our conscience as stakeholders who have served this state and who believe that, at this particular moment, Osun State requires a different direction.

“It is on this basis that we have resolved to officially declare our support for Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Our support for AMBO is therefore a decision born out of necessity, conviction and our sincere desire for the progress of Osun State. Our political identity remains with the PDP, but our electoral decision at this moment is to support a candidate who we believe can provide the kind of inclusive leadership that Osun State deserves,” Oyinlola remarked.

“I sincerely appreciate the political party for the opportunity to serve at different capacities ranging from Local Government, State and National levels respectively; I therefore wish the party well,” he wrote in his resignation letter.

His departure has intensified speculation about his next political move, particularly following a recent visit by the APC’s governorship candidate in Gombe State, Jamilu Isiyaka Gwamna, to Dukku Local Government Area, Zaune’s hometown. The visit has fueled reports that the former ADC official is preparing to formally declare his membership of the ruling party.

Political observers believe the development could strengthen the APC’s grassroots support in the area while further weakening the ADC’s organizational structure in Gombe State ahead of future political contests.

Zaune’s resignation is also the latest in a growing wave of defections affecting the ADC in the state. Only a few weeks earlier, the party’s State Secretary, Ahmed Gana, also resigned from the ADC and subsequently joined the APC, where he publicly pledged his support for Gwamna’s governorship ambition.

The successive exits of senior party officials have raised concerns about internal stability within the ADC in Gombe State, with analysts suggesting that the defections could influence the political balance ahead of future elections as parties continue efforts to consolidate support and attract influential political figures.

“I have been watching the candidates closely, and after wide consultations with my state chairman, secretary, and other senior members of the party, we have reached an alignment. At the end of the day, we are all progressives.

“We look forward to a situation where, by the special grace of God, we will deliver Osun State to our governor, Oyebamiji,” he said.

Responding to the gesture, Oyebamiji, who commended the APGA candidate for the endorsement, expressed readiness to reach out to other parties in the governorship race to seek their backing in the poll.

He said, “Thank you so much. I appreciate this, and I want to assure you that we will work together to rescue Osun State from the current bad government. Your people will be taken care of.

“I am glad about this development, and we will also reach out to other parties so that we can join hands together to build a greater Osun State.”