Adeleke backs Tinubu for 2027, calls him son of Osun

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has again supported President Bola Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election. He called Tinubu a son of Osun State.

Adeleke said this at a press conference on Sunday. This was after the Independent National Electoral Commission announced him as the winner of the August 15 governorship election.

The governor praised Tinubu for his support in ensuring a free and fair election in the state.

"At this point, I must deeply appreciate Mr. President, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his strong support for a free and fair election.

"Mr. President is a son of Osun State, and I hereby reaffirm my earlier endorsement of him for a second term in the 2027 presidential election," Adeleke said.

He had already endorsed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election. This was despite being a member of the Peoples Democratic Party before joining the Accord Party ahead of the Osun governorship election.

Adeleke was declared the winner of the election at around 7:24 am on Sunday by the State Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, who is the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti.

The Accord Party candidate received 511,067 votes, beating his closest rival, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who got 444,815 votes.

Adeleke won in 19 of the state's 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won in 11. The African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, came in third with 17,180 votes.

This result gives Adeleke a second term. He was first elected governor in 2022 under the PDP before moving to the Accord Party for the 2026 election.

Earlier on Sunday, Adeleke thanked Tinubu for calling to congratulate him on his victory. He also said he expected Oyebamiji to call and congratulate him as well.

"Yes. This is no victor, no vanquished. I want them to come over. I am expecting Oyebamiji to even, as a civilised person, to call me and congratulate me," he said.

He added, "And of course, I want to seize this opportunity to thank Mr. President. Mr. President has called me and he has congratulated me. And I thank you, Mr. President, for making sure democracy lives on, because you fought for it, Mr. President."