OSOGBO: The Imole Campaign Council of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has denied claims that the governor’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid was based on a political agreement.
The campaign council said Adeleke’s decision to support Tinubu was driven by the President’s performance and reforms, rather than any pre-arranged political deal.
The council’s spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, made the clarification in a post on his X handle on Sunday while reacting to a statement by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
Keyamo, while congratulating Adeleke on his re-election, had written: “Agreement is agreement.”
He said, “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 statement generated reactions online, with some interpreting Keyamo’s reference to an “agreement” as an indication of a possible political understanding between Adeleke and Tinubu.
However, responding to the minister, Olajengbesi insisted that there was no political deal behind Adeleke’s decision to endorse Tinubu.
Quoting Keyamo’s post, he said the comment should not diminish the decision of Osun voters who participated in the August 15 governorship election.
“Do not undermine the resilience of Osun people. There is no agreement,” Olajengbesi said.
He added, “Our support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, @officialABAT, is based on his performance and reforms that have strengthened states economically.”
According to him, Adeleke’s victory was solely the result of the choice made by voters across the state, while President Tinubu’s role was to ensure that the democratic process was respected.
Osun people voted @AAdeleke_01. President Tinubu simply ensured democratic rules were respected,” he said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, winner of the election after he polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who scored 444,815 votes.
Adeleke, who secured a second term in office, had earlier reaffirmed his endorsement of Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election, describing the President as a son of Osun State.
Keyamo’s comment followed Adeleke’s public endorsement, with the minister describing the governor as a man of integrity and honour and referring to an “agreement” between the two politicians.
The clarification from Adeleke’s camp is therefore aimed at drawing a distinction between the governor’s political support for Tinubu and any alleged private arrangement, insisting that the endorsement was based on the President’s performance and reforms
