Nigeria: Adeleke Restates Commitment to Support Tinubu's Re-Election

What the report says

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has restated his support for President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in the 2027 Nigerian presidential election, according to Premium Times, as distributed by AllAfrica. He made the remarks on Sunday after being declared the winner of the Osun governorship election, framing Tinubu as a “son of Osun State” and thanking him for backing what Adeleke described as a free and fair vote.

The report says Adeleke’s endorsement comes after a political shift ahead of the election: he had left the Peoples Democratic Party and contested on the Accord Party platform. He won the governorship race against All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji, while African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salaam finished third. The State Returning Officer declared Adeleke the winner at the Independent National Electoral Commission collation centre in Osogbo, securing him another four-year term.

Premium Times reported that Adeleke said his support for Tinubu was consistent with an earlier position and tied to the president’s connection with Osun State and the conduct of the poll. The development is notable because it cuts across the usual rivalry between the PDP and APC in Osun politics and comes as parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 general elections. In general, public endorsements by state governors can carry symbolic weight in Nigeria’s broader party competition, though their direct electoral impact can vary.