The Imole Campaign Council of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has dismissed claims of a political agreement between the governor and President Bola Tinubu over Adeleke’s support for the President’s 2027 re-election bid.
This was just as the council maintained that Adeleke’s endorsement of Tinubu was based on the President’s performance and economic reforms.
It insisted that there was no pre-arranged political deal behind the governor’s position.
The council’s spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, stated this on Sunday while reacting to a remark by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, which had triggered speculation of an alleged pact between Adeleke and Tinubu.
Keyamo, while congratulating Adeleke on his re-election in the August 15 Osun governorship election, had thanked the governor for his “public and unequivocal endorsement” of Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.
He added: “You are a man of integrity and honour. ‘Agreement is agreement.’”
The comment generated reactions on social media, with some interpreting it as an indication that Adeleke’s support for Tinubu was tied to a political understanding.
However, Olajengbesi rejected the interpretation, urging Nigerians not to allow the comment to diminish the significance of the Osun electorate’s decision.
Quoting Keyamo’s post on X, he said, “Do not undermine the resilience of Osun people. There is no agreement.”
The campaign council spokesperson explained that Adeleke’s support for the President was based on what he described as Tinubu’s performance and reforms.
“Our support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, @officialABAT, is based on his performance and reforms that have strengthened states economically,” Olajengbesi said.
He further insisted that Adeleke’s re-election was secured through the votes of Osun residents, while crediting Tinubu with ensuring that the electoral process was allowed to proceed without interference.
“Osun people voted @AAdeleke_01. President Tinubu simply ensured democratic rules were respected,” he added.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday, declared Adeleke the winner of the election after he polled 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes.
The victory handed Adeleke a second term in office, following a closely watched contest between the ruling Accord Party in the state and the APC at the federal level.
Adeleke had earlier publicly endorsed Tinubu for a second term in 2027, describing the President as a son of Osun State.
Meanwhile, the national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Seriake Dickson, has described Adeleke’s re-election as evidence that Nigerians can still determine who governs them through the ballot.
Dickson, in a post on his verified X handle on Sunday, congratulated Adeleke and the people of Osun State, saying the outcome was significant for both the state and Nigeria’s democratic development.
He said the election demonstrated that, despite the challenges facing the country’s political environment, voters could still assert their will at the polls.
“I warmly congratulate the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency Senator Ademola Adeleke, on his victory in the Osun State governorship election.
“His victory shows that Nigerians can still decide who governs them. I commend the people of Osun State for standing firm in defence of their democratic choice,” Dickson said.
He also urged candidates who lost the election to accept the outcome in the spirit of sportsmanship and support the governor in advancing peace and development across the state.