By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has declared that his endorsement of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election remains intact, insisting he cannot go back on his word after pledging his support.
Adeleke made the declaration in Osogbo on Sunday, 30 August, 2026 while receiving the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, and other prominent party members who paid him a courtesy visit at the Osun Government House.
The Governor recalled that he had earlier promised to support Tinubu’s preferred candidates for the principal positions of the National Assembly and stuck to that decision.
He noted separately that Tinubu had shown him empathy when the state government’s account was frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) a few days to the 15 August governorship poll.
Narrating the events surrounding his support for Tinubu’s choices during the National Assembly leadership contest, Adeleke said many had dismissed his endorsement of the President as mere politicking.
“A lot of people thought it was politicking when I endorsed Mr President. From day one, during the election of the principal officer of the National Assembly, everybody was going in different directions. In fact, Abdulaziz Yari was cruising to victory at that time, but the Chief of Staff called me that Mr President would like to talk to me,” he said.
He recalled wondering initially whether he had offended the President, before learning the call concerned rallying support for Senator Godswill Akpabio and Tajudeen Abass.
“I told the Chief of Staff to tell the President that there was nothing to worry about, but I was suspecting that my people, senators and House of Representatives members from Osun State, were tilting towards Yari. I told the Chief of Staff that I would call them and make sure that they support what Baba [Tinubu] wanted,” he said.
Adeleke said he moved swiftly to secure the required support despite the Chief of Staff’s doubts.
“The Chief of Staff asked me if I was sure it was going to be possible. I said, when I say something, I never fail. So, I called them. My private jet was waiting for me in Ibadan. I said, I will be in Ibadan and sort everything. I chatted with Senator Lere Oyewumi to tell everyone of them that things have changed and they must all support what the President wanted,” he said.
He disclosed that his efforts were publicly acknowledged by Tinubu at a subsequent National Executive Council meeting.
“We had a National Executive Council meeting that day, and I knew Baba [Tinubu] would be there. As a matter of fact, the President gave me a powerful recognition at the meeting. I was sitting there, and the President came in, and he was looking for me. So, I don’t make empty promises; I don’t play games. That is not me, because I have the fear of God,” he said.
He called on all stakeholders in Osun affairs to shelve their differences and work together for the state’s development.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Basiru explained that the visit to the Governor was threefold: to reciprocate Adeleke’s visit to him during the burial of his mother, late Alhaja Sidikatu Basiru; to congratulate the Governor on his re-election victory; and to appreciate him for endorsing Tinubu’s re-election bid.
He was accompanied by former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adegboye Akintunde; Osun APC Assistant State Secretary, Waheed Adediran; and former member of the Osun State House of Assembly representing Osogbo State Constituency, Adeoye Adelakun, among others.
“My visit here is threefold; I want to thank His Excellency and also to return the visit he made to my house during the time I lost my mother. You know that it was well reported that he came to my house; His Excellency came to my house to visit me and my family. He also graciously attended the burial ceremonies for my mother. He even wore a complete agbada of the same attire that I wore. So I came to thank him as is expected of an Omoluabi,” Basiru said.
He explained that he could not return the visit earlier because of the governorship contest, during which he campaigned vigorously for the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
“I could not return the visit that time because we were in the contest of election that time and you also know that my candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, was in the race and I campaigned vigorously for his success in the election.
The second is also to congratulate him for his victory in the election, even though he defeated our candidate and our party in the election,” he said, noting that Oyebamiji had also congratulated Adeleke a day earlier.
On the third reason for the visit, Basiru said he came to thank Adeleke for endorsing Tinubu and to affirm the APC’s readiness to work with the governor to deliver Osun for the President. “Thirdly, I also came to thank him for endorsing my leader and our presidential candidate. To also say that we are ready to work together to ensure that we deliver Osun massively for President Bola Tinubu. Those are the three reasons why I’m here: to thank him for visiting my family and attending my mother’s burial. To congratulate him and also to thank him for supporting and endorsing our President,” he said.
Speaking on preparations for the 2027 general election, the former Osun Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice said Adeleke, beyond endorsing Tinubu, had also promised to campaign actively for the President.
Citing vote tallies from the last governorship poll as a yardstick, Basiru projected that a collaboration between the Accord and the APC could deliver as much as 1.5 million votes for Tinubu in Osun State.
“The Governor, as I also said, not only endorsed, he will also be on the field to campaign vigorously for President Bola Tinubu. Definitely, you can even see from the last contest, you see, my party performed creditably well in that election, scoring 46 per cent of the votes. In between the Accords and the APC, we have close to one million votes, and with the presidential election, I think we should be looking to working together and get about 1.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu,” he said.
Basiru called on residents to embrace peace, charging members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in the state to resolve disagreements within their ranks.
He also urged residents to set aside disputes stemming from the last governorship poll.
“All of us belong to this place; we must work to ensure that we have meaningful infrastructure and a good living for the people of Osun. So that is my message. My message to my people in our APC is that we must close ranks and work together, work together to ensure victory for President Bola Tinubu,” he said.
