Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has declared that he will give President Bola Tinubu strong support for re-election in 2027, saying his decision is driven by regional interest and the need to allow the President consolidate his projects in the South-West.
Adeleke made the remarks in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics monitored by The News Chronicle, 2026, hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him winner of the Osun governorship election.
Asked whether he would actively campaign for Tinubu in 2027, the governor gave an emphatic response: “Big time, I will.”
Adeleke, who secured a second term after polling 511,067 votes, defeating APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, said his support for Tinubu was not based on any political agreement between them.
He explained that as a Yoruba man from the South-West, Tinubu deserved the region’s support to continue his administration’s development efforts.
“Since a Yoruba man has won the first term, maybe we should give him another chance to develop his reform,” Adeleke said.
The governor also disclosed that he was prepared to work with members of the APC, including supporters of former Osun Governor Gboyega Oyetola, in backing Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid.
His comments come amid a dramatic shift in the political relationship between Adeleke and Tinubu, who had been on opposing sides during the Osun election campaign.
‘Tinubu called me’ — Adeleke withdraws EFCC suit
Adeleke also revealed that he had directed the Osun State Attorney-General to withdraw the lawsuit filed against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the freezing of the state government’s bank accounts.
According to the governor, the decision followed Tinubu’s personal intervention in the matter.
Adeleke said the President contacted him and subsequently intervened to resolve the dispute.
“I have instructed my Attorney General to drop it. Mr President has done well. He called me. What more do I want?” he said.
‘Oyebamiji should call me’
Reflecting on his election victory, Adeleke also said his closest challenger, Oyebamiji, should be the one to call and congratulate him, rather than expecting him to make the first move.
The governor said the result had demonstrated that the people of Osun appreciated his administration’s performance, despite what he described as efforts by political opponents to underestimate him.
Adeleke further spoke emotionally about his late brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, revealing that he visited his grave on the eve of the election to seek prayers and psychological strength.
The late Isiaka Adeleke was the first civilian governor of Osun State and died in 2017.
And in a lighter moment during the interview, the governor defended his famous dancing persona, insisting that dancing does not interfere with his duties.
He even joked that he would teach President Tinubu some of his dance steps when he visits him to celebrate his re-election victory.
Adeleke’s victory saw him poll 511,067 votes across the state, defeating Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes, in an election in which the governor won 19 of Osun’s 30 local government areas.
