Wike reveals why Adeleke thanked Tinubu after Osun win

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said he asked Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to publicly thank President Bola Tinubu after his win in the August 15 governorship election.

Wike shared this during a media chat he held on Wednesday, which was shown on Channels Television.

He spoke about his connection with Adeleke and his role during the Osun governorship election. Wike said he was worried if Adeleke, who had told him he supported Tinubu, would stick to that if he won.

He called Adeleke while he was in Croatia to ask if he would keep supporting the President if he won. "My concern: if Adeleke wins, will he still support Mr. President? I called him because that’s my interest. I said, ‘Listen, you have told me you support Mr. President. Are you going to keep to it?’ He said he would keep to it. I said, ‘Okay.’

“I wished him good luck. I don’t need to go to Osun.”

Wike mentioned that he later told Adeleke to publicly confirm his support for Tinubu and to thank the President for what he called a free and fair election.

"After that election, go and ask Adeleke. I told him, when I was in Croatia, ‘You told me you support Mr. President?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ ‘Now you have won, issue a statement. Issue a statement that you still will support Mr. President and thank him for a free and fair election.’”

He also urged Adeleke to present his Certificate of Return to Tinubu after he got it. "I don’t need to go and tell anybody. I don’t need to go and tell Mr. President. I don’t need to. He issued a statement. I also told him, ‘Adeleke, when you receive your Certificate of Return, go and present it to Mr. President.’”

Wike explained that his actions were part of a plan to counter the opposition group he called the “coalition” that seeks political power ahead of the 2027 elections.

"I don’t need to call Mr. President ‘I want to…’ No, I don’t do that. It is my job. What was that strategy? To knock off these people you call coalition coming to curry favor. When Adeleke issued that statement, ADC withdrew.”

Adeleke, who ran for the Osun governorship election under the Accord Party, beat the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, based on the results from the Independent National Electoral Commission.

PUNCH Online reported that Adeleke, soon after being declared the winner, thanked Tinubu and said the President called to congratulate him.

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

Adeleke received 511,067 votes to defeat Oyebamiji, who got 444,815 votes. The incumbent won in 19 out of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won in 11.