The campaign organisation of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has firmly denied claims made by a federal minister that the governor entered into a political agreement to support President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027. The denial comes in response to comments by Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Economy, who congratulated Adeleke on his victory in the 2026 Osun governorship election while referencing an alleged deal.
Keyamo's Congratulatory Message Sparks Controversy
In his congratulatory message, Keyamo wrote: "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 minister's choice of words suggested that Adeleke's re-election was tied to a broader political understanding between the governor and the federal government.
The statement was widely interpreted as a signal that Adeleke's victory, achieved on the Accord Party ticket, came with strings attached. This is particularly significant because Tinubu leads the All Progressives Congress (APC), a rival party, making any alliance between the two politically notable ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Imole Campaign Council Responds
Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesman for the Imole Campaign Council (TICC), rejected Keyamo's characterisation outright. He insisted that the people of Osun made a free democratic choice and that no backroom arrangement underpins the governor's relationship with the presidency.
"Do not undermine the resilience of Osun people. There is no agreement," Olajengbesi said. The lawyer-turned-politician further stated: "Our support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, @officialABAT, is based on his performance and reforms that have strengthened states economically. Osun people voted for @AAdeleke_01. President Tinubu simply ensured democratic rules were respected."
Olajengbesi's statement draws a clear line between what he described as principled policy-based support and any suggestion of a transactional political pact. The camp did not dispute that Adeleke holds a positive view of Tinubu's presidency, but insisted that goodwill rooted in governance outcomes is not the same as an electoral agreement.
Implications for 2027 Elections
The exchange highlights the delicate political dynamics in Osun State and the broader national landscape. Adeleke's victory in the 2026 election was a significant event, and the relationship between his Accord Party and the APC-led federal government remains a subject of intense speculation.
The TICC did not address whether Adeleke personally spoke with Tinubu ahead of or after the election, nor did the camp comment on what specific reforms it credited to the president's administration. The council's response focuses on the principle that the governor's support for Tinubu is based on performance, not any political arrangement.
As the 2027 presidential election approaches, the nature of Adeleke's alliance with Tinubu will likely continue to be a point of discussion. For now, the Imole Campaign Council has made it clear that it rejects any notion of a secret agreement, emphasising that the will of Osun voters was the decisive factor in the governor's re-election.
