Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has dismissed reports of any political agreement with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying his support for the President ahead of the 2027 elections is based partly on his Yoruba identity and the projects being executed by his administration.
Adeleke made the clarification during an interview on Sunday Politics while discussing his relationship with the President and his political plans ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Asked whether he had reached any agreement with Tinubu, the governor said, “No, I did not reach an agreement with Mr President.”
He explained that he decided to support Tinubu because he is a Yoruba man and because of the President’s development initiatives, particularly the ongoing federal road projects.
“My support is just based on Mr President being a Yoruba man and his projects. And I believe that all the federal roads that he has started, I want to encourage him not to forget Osun too,” Adeleke said.
The governor said he believed Tinubu deserved another opportunity to advance his reforms.
“I feel like, since a Yoruba man has won for the first time, maybe I will give him another chance to develop his reforms,” he added.
Adeleke also expressed willingness to work with political actors supporting Tinubu in Osun State, regardless of their party affiliation.
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“As long as they say, ‘I’m doing it for Mr President,’ I don’t mind. I will work with them,” he said.
However, the governor ruled out any immediate plan to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC), where Tinubu is the national leader.
“As I’m talking to you right now, I’m not even thinking about that. It’s not on my agenda,” Adeleke said.
His comments followed a congratulatory message from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who described Adeleke as a man of integrity and honour after his electoral victory and stated, “Agreement is agreement.”
On political disputes involving his administration, Adeleke said he was willing to put the battles surrounding the 2026 election behind him and pursue political solutions to outstanding issues.
He said discussions were ongoing to resolve the local government dispute and other political matters.
On his disagreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Adeleke said President Tinubu had intervened and asked him to drop the matter.
“Mr President has told me. He called me. What more do I want?” he said.
The governor also disclosed that his administration was working to secure the release of some of his supporters who remain in detention.
