Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has credited President Bola Tinubu with allowing Osun State’s governorship election to run without federal interference, arguing that Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election victory stands as evidence of the President’s commitment to free and fair polls.
Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party, was declared winner of the 15th August election after polling 511,067 votes, comfortably ahead of his closest rival, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes. The governor triumphed in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, securing himself a second term in office.
Wike, who remains a prominent member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party despite serving in the APC-led federal cabinet, has consistently positioned himself as an ally of the President, and his latest remarks continue that trend. He argued that Tinubu’s decision to keep federal machinery out of the contest allowed Osun voters to determine the outcome freely, framing Adeleke’s victory as a direct consequence of that restraint
rather than any political favour.The minister’s comments echo similar praise from other quarters. Tinubu himself had directed the Inspector-General of Police and other security chiefs to guarantee tight security at polling units ahead of the election, insisting that the process had to be transparent and credible. Following the declaration of results, the President personally called Adeleke to congratulate him, describing the outcome as proof that Nigeria’s democracy continues to thrive.
Not everyone shares an entirely rosy view of the exercise, however. Some political figures who monitored the process have acknowledged the election was largely credible while still raising concerns over isolated reports of disorder and the detention of some opposition supporters during the vote.
Adeleke, for his part, has openly thanked the President for what he called a free and fair contest and reaffirmed his earlier endorsement of Tinubu’s bid for a second term in the 2027 presidential election, further cementing an unusual alliance between the Osun governor and the ruling party at the centre.
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