Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has refuted claims that he reached any agreement with President Bola Tinubu regarding his endorsement of the President for a second term in 2027.
Adeleke clarified that his support for Tinubu stems from the fact that the President is a Yoruba man from the South-West, adding that he aims to encourage him to continue with his developmental initiatives in the region.
The governor made these remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
Despite their affiliation with opposing political parties, President Tinubu and Governor Adeleke have maintained a cordial relationship, with Adeleke making important visits to Tinubu and the President interacting with him.
After his re-election, the governor reiterated his support for President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
During the political programme, Adeleke was asked whether his previous endorsement of Tinubu was based on a political or personal agreement, especially in light of Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo’s remark that “agreement is agreement.”
Adeleke said, “No, I never reached an agreement with Mr President. My support is just based on the fact that he’s a Yoruba man and he’s from the South-West. I believe that, with all the federal roads that he has started, I want to encourage him not to forget the South-West too because all our federal roads lead to other regions.
“And I feel like, well, since a Yoruba man has won the first term, maybe we should give him another chance to develop his reforms.”
When asked if he would fully support Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, Adeleke responded, “absolutely, I will.”
The governor expressed his readiness to collaborate with members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, including his rival, Bola Oyebamiji, and former governor Gboyega Oyetola.
“As long as it’s for Mr President, I have no objections; I will work with them,” he stated.
Adeleke further mentioned that he would assist Tinubu in any capacity required when the 2027 campaign commences.
“Whenever Mr President is ready to campaign and so forth, I will participate in whatever way he needs me to,” he remarked.
His statements followed Keyamo’s expression of gratitude to Adeleke for publicly reaffirming his support for Tinubu’s re-election campaign in 2027.
Governor Adeleke was first elected in 2022.
He secured re-election last Saturday with 511,067 votes, defeating APC’s Oyebamiji, who received 444,815 votes. ADC candidate Najeem Salaam finished third with 17,180 votes.
The governor won in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victory in 11.
