2027: Why I’m supporting Tinubu for re-election — Adeleke
August 16, 2026 10:09 pm
FILE: Tinubu and Adeleke
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has said his decision to support President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027 is based on his belief that the President, as a Yoruba man from the South-West, deserves support to consolidate his reforms and infrastructure projects in the region.
Adeleke stated this in an interview with Channels Television on Sunday, shortly after he was declared the winner of the August 15 Osun State governorship election, where he secured a second term in office.
The governor, who dismissed suggestions that his endorsement of Tinubu was tied to a political agreement over the Osun governorship election, said his support for the President was not based on any personal deal.
Asked whether he had reached an agreement with Tinubu in connection with the election, Adeleke said, “No, I never reached an agreement with Mr President. No.”
Explaining his position, the governor said, “My support is just based on… he’s a Yoruba man, and he’s from the Southwest. And I believe that all the federal roads that he has started, I want to encourage him, you know, not to forget Southwest too.”
He added, “Since a Yoruba man has won the first term, maybe we should give him another chance to develop his reform.”
Asked whether he would campaign actively for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, Adeleke responded, “Big time, I will.”
The governor also said he was willing to work with members of the All Progressives Congress, including supporters of former Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, in his effort to support Tinubu.
“Well, as long as it’s… I’m doing it for Mr. President. So I won’t mind. I will work with them,” he said.
Adeleke added that he would participate in Tinubu’s 2027 campaign in whatever capacity the President requested.
“And of course, whatever Mr. President… when it’s time for him to campaign and all that, whatever how he wants me to come in, I will do it,” he said.
The governor’s endorsement comes amid renewed attention to his relationship with Tinubu following the Osun election and comments by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who had earlier congratulated Adeleke and said, “Agreement is agreement,” after the governor publicly backed Tinubu for 2027.
Adeleke, however, maintained that his support was not motivated by political bargaining.
“You see, a lot of people… I don’t play games. When I say… they don’t call me ‘talk and do’ for nothing,” he said.
“A lot of people feel like it’s because of politics, maybe I want him to support me. No, it is my work that people look on for them to support me.”
Adeleke won the August 15 election with 511,067 votes, defeating the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. The governor won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11. The African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.
Following the result, Tinubu congratulated Adeleke in a telephone call and urged him to unite the people of Osun State for development during his second term.
Recounting the conversation, Adeleke said the President called him to ask about the election before congratulating him on his victory.
“He called me, and because I see him like a father. So he called me, and just said, ‘Mr Governor, what’s going on? How is the election going?’ I said, ‘Ah, your son is cruising to victory,’” Adeleke recounted.
He said the conversation was friendly, adding that both men joked about his reputation for dancing before Tinubu congratulated him. The governor said he appreciated the President for the call and congratulatory message.
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