Osun poll: Keyamo lied, Adeleke has no political deal with Tinubu

The Imole Campaign Council of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has dismissed suggestions that the governor’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid was based on a political agreement.

The council said Adeleke’s endorsement of Tinubu was driven by the President’s performance and reforms, rather than any pre-arranged political deal.

Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesperson for the council, stated this in a post on his X handle on Sunday while reacting to a comment by Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

Keyamo, while congratulating Adeleke on his re-election, had written: “Agreement is agreement.”

“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,’” Keyamo wrote.

The comment generated reactions online, with some interpreting it as an indication of a private political arrangement between Adeleke and Tinubu.

However, Olajengbesi rejected the suggestion, insisting that there was no agreement between the governor and the President.

Quoting Keyamo’s post, he said the comment should not diminish the significance of the mandate given to Adeleke by Osun voters in the August 15 governorship election.

“Do not undermine the resilience of Osun people. There is no agreement,” he said.

He added: “Our support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, @officialABAT, is based on his performance and reforms that have strengthened states economically.”

Olajengbesi maintained that Adeleke’s victory was solely the result of the decision of Osun voters, while crediting Tinubu with allowing the democratic process to take its course.

“Osun people voted @AAdeleke_01. President Tinubu simply ensured democratic rules were respected,” he said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, winner of the election after he polled 511,067 votes to defeat Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 444,815 votes.

Adeleke, who secured a second term in office, had earlier reaffirmed his support for Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027, describing the President as a son of Osun State.

Keyamo’s “agreement is agreement” comment followed the governor’s endorsement, with the minister describing Adeleke as a “man of integrity and honour” and appearing to suggest that an understanding existed between the two politicians.