The Imole Campaign Council of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has rejected claims that the governor’s endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election was based on a political agreement between the two leaders.
The council said Adeleke’s support for Tinubu was informed by what it described as the President’s performance and economic reforms that have strengthened state governments, rather than any private political arrangement linked to the Osun governorship election.
The clarification followed comments by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who congratulated Adeleke on his victory and thanked him for publicly endorsing Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Keyamo had written: “Thank you, Governor Ademola Adeleke, for the public and unequivocal endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT for the 2027 Presidential Election. You are a man of integrity and honour. ‘Agreement is agreement.’”
The remark triggered reactions on social media, with some Nigerians interpreting the phrase “agreement is agreement” as suggesting that Adeleke’s support for Tinubu was part of a prior political understanding.
Responding on Sunday, spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, dismissed that interpretation and insisted that Adeleke’s victory was delivered by Osun voters.
“Do not undermine the resilience of Osun people. There is no agreement,” Olajengbesi said.
He explained that the governor’s support for Tinubu was based on an assessment of the President’s policies and their impact on states.
“Our support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, @officialABAT, is based on his performance and reforms that have strengthened states economically,” he said.
Olajengbesi also maintained that Tinubu’s role in the election was simply to allow the democratic process to run its course, rather than to facilitate Adeleke’s victory through any political arrangement.
“Osun people voted @AAdeleke_01. President Tinubu simply ensured democratic rules were respected,” he said.
The clarification came after the Independent National Electoral Commission formally declared Adeleke, candidate of the Accord Party, winner of the Osun State governorship election.
The Returning Officer and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, announced the result after collation from the state’s 30 local government areas.
Declaring the result, Ogunwole said Adeleke had satisfied the legal requirements for election.
Declaring the result, Ogunwole said Adeleke had satisfied the legal requirements for election.
“That, Ademola Adeleke of Accord Party, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared winner and is returned elected, duly signed by me,” the Returning Officer said.
The dispute over Keyamo’s “agreement is agreement” remark has consequently shifted attention to the political relationship between Adeleke and Tinubu ahead of 2027, with the governor’s campaign organisation insisting that there was no electoral pact and that any support for the President remains based on performance and policy rather than a private deal.