FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has explained why he asked Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to publicly thank President Bola Tinubu after winning the August 15 governorship election.
Wike said he contacted Adeleke while he was in Croatia to confirm whether the governor would maintain his support for Tinubu if he emerged victorious in the election.
The minister disclosed this during a media parley on Wednesday, where he also discussed his relationship with Adeleke and his decision not to campaign physically in Osun during the election.
According to Wike, his main concern was whether Adeleke would remain committed to supporting Tinubu after securing another term.
He said Adeleke had previously told him that he supported the President, prompting him to ask whether that position would remain unchanged after the election.
Wike said he wished Adeleke well but decided he did not need to travel to Osun for the poll.
Wike asked Adeleke to thank Tinubu
Wike said he subsequently told Adeleke to issue a public statement reaffirming his support for Tinubu and thanking the President for what he described as a free and fair election.
The minister also said he advised Adeleke to personally present his Certificate of Return to Tinubu after receiving the document.
According to Wike, the steps were part of a broader political strategy aimed at weakening the influence of the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He claimed Adeleke’s public statement contributed to the withdrawal of the African Democratic Congress from the political contest, describing the development as part of the strategy he had pursued.
Adeleke defeats APC candidate
Adeleke contested the Osun governorship election on the platform of the Accord Party and defeated the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, according to results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The governor secured 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji received 444,815 votes.
Adeleke won in 19 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas, while the APC candidate carried 11.
After his victory was declared, Adeleke publicly acknowledged Tinubu and said the President had personally called to congratulate him.
The governor also credited Tinubu with helping to preserve democratic principles, according to remarks made after the election.
Wike links move to 2027 strategy
Wike’s latest explanation places Adeleke’s post-election communication within the minister’s wider political calculations ahead of 2027.
The FCT minister has previously positioned himself against the opposition coalition seeking to challenge the ruling political establishment, and he said his engagement with Adeleke was intended to counter efforts by the coalition to gain political influence.
Adeleke’s victory and subsequent public acknowledgement of Tinubu have therefore become part of the political conversation surrounding alliances and realignments ahead of the 2027 elections.