Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has denied entering into any political agreement with President Bola Tinubu in exchange for backing his bid for a second term in 2027.
Adeleke said his decision to support Tinubu was driven by the President’s Yoruba and South-West roots, stressing that he wants to encourage him to sustain his development efforts in the region.
The governor made the clarification while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, amid questions over the nature of his relationship with Tinubu despite belonging to opposing political parties.
Adeleke has maintained a cordial relationship with the President, including paying significant visits to him. Following his re-election, he also publicly renewed his support for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid.
During the programme, Adeleke was asked whether his earlier endorsement of Tinubu was the result of a political or personal understanding, particularly following Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo’s comment 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.”
Asked whether his backing for Tinubu in 2027 would be total, the governor responded, “absolutely, I will.”
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He also said he was willing to work with APC members, including his former electoral rival, Bola Oyebamiji, and former Osun governor Gboyega Oyetola, whenever such cooperation would advance Tinubu’s interests.
“As long as it’s for Mr President, I have no objections; I will work with them,” he stated.
Adeleke added that he would make himself available to support Tinubu when the President begins his 2027 campaign.
“Whenever Mr President is ready to campaign and so forth, I will participate in whatever way he needs me to,” he remarked.
His comments came after Keyamo thanked the Osun governor for publicly restating his support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Adeleke was first elected governor of Osun in 2022. He won another term last Saturday after polling 511,067 votes, defeating APC candidate Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes, while ADC’s Najeem Salaam placed third with 17,180 votes.
The governor carried 19 of Osun’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won in the remaining 11.