Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has firmly refuted claims that his support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid was the result of a secret political pact.
Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, had on Monday confirmed that the opposition is angry with Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State for thanking President Bola Tinubu over his electoral victory.
However, in response to assertions by Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, who claimed an agreement was struck between the two leaders, Adeleke declared: “No, I never reached an agreement with Mr President.”
The governor’s spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, corroborated this position, stating that support for the president is strictly performance-based.
The Osun State Government previously clarified through spokesperson Olawale Rasheed on Arise TV that Adeleke’s backing of Tinubu was established well before his victory in the August 15 governorship election.
Rasheed emphasised that the decision aimed to bridge state-federal relations to secure major infrastructure projects, including the Ilesa–Ibadan, Osogbo–Ibadan, and Gbongan–Osogbo road developments rather than serving as a post-election trade-off.
He explained that Adeleke’s support for Tinubu was aimed at strengthening the relationship between Osun State and the Federal Government and attracting more development projects to the state.
Political Debates and Electoral Strategy
While critics view Adeleke’s conciliatory posture as an ideological compromise, supporters frame it as pragmatic leadership aimed at maintaining state-federal harmony. The development sparked reactions from national political figures:
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Shehu Sani’s Perspective: The former lawmaker argued that opposition criticism over Adeleke thanking President Tinubu overlooks electoral realities. In a statement shared via his verified X handle, Sani argued that the opposition’s expectation for the governor to maintain a confrontational stance against the president is misplaced and overlooks the realities of Nigerian elections. He noted that election victory requires both winning votes at polling units and securing them during collation, commending the non-confrontational approach for safeguarding the integrity of the process.
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Festus Keyamo’s Claim: Minister Keyamo publicly praised Adeleke for the endorsement, describing it as an act of integrity based on a mutual understanding.
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Pelumi Olajengbesi’s Rebuttal: Adeleke’s representative swiftly rejected Keyamo’s claims, asserting that the votes reflected the resilience of the Osun electorate and that President Tinubu merely ensured democratic rules were upheld.
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Navigating Political Backlash and Electoral Friction
Despite backlash from opposition figures and some supporters who viewed the move as a betrayal, the political relationship between Adeleke and Tinubu was forged during critical moments preceding the election.
The collaboration surfaced prominently when Governor Adeleke appealed directly to President Tinubu to intervene in a wave of political violence ahead of the poll.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Olorunda Local Government Area, Adeleke urged the President to prevent a recurrence of the historical political violence seen in the 1983 South-West elections, using his declared backing of Tinubu’s 2027 bid as a bargaining point to question why his supporters were being targeted.
Demonstrating a reciprocal relationship, President Tinubu was among the first to congratulate Adeleke, making a personal phone call at approximately 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 16, 2026, following his election victory.
Presidential Intervention Amid Financial Strain
The strategic tie proved pivotal when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained a court order on August 5 freezing an account belonging to the Osun State Government just days before the election.
In response to Adeleke’s call for intervention, President Tinubu personally signed and issued a statement directing the anti-graft agency to immediately vacate the court order.
While reaffirming his commitment to the independence of statutory anti-corruption agencies, the President described the timing of the EFCC’s action as embarrassing and capable of undermining confidence in the democratic process.
Tinubu noted that federal actions are routinely attributed to the Presidency regardless of prior knowledge, emphasizing that his directive to lift the freezing order was necessary to preserve public trust and electoral fairness.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.