Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid in the 2027 presidential election, describing the President as “a son of Osun State” while thanking him for what he called a free, fair and credible governorship election.
Adeleke made the declaration shortly after being officially returned as the winner of the August 15 governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ending months of intense political campaigning and securing another four-year mandate.
His endorsement came despite the fiercely contested election that pitted him against the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in one of Nigeria’s most closely watched off-cycle elections.
Adeleke thanks Tinubu after victory
Addressing supporters after his victory was confirmed, Adeleke expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, saying the conduct of the election demonstrated a commitment to allowing Osun voters determine their own future.
The governor said the peaceful outcome of the poll deserved recognition and used the opportunity to restate his support for the President’s 2027 re-election ambition.
“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,” Adeleke said.
He added that Tinubu’s connection to Osun State made his endorsement even more significant.
“President Tinubu is a son of Osun State and I hereby reaffirm my earlier endorsement of him for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.”
INEC declares Adeleke winner
INEC announced Adeleke as the winner after the completion of collation from all 30 local government areas in the state.
According to the official results, the incumbent governor secured 511,067 votes, defeating APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.
Adeleke won 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victory in 11 local government areas, giving the incumbent a clear margin in the final tally.
The declaration marked the conclusion of an election that attracted significant national attention because of its political implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Election drew national attention
The Osun governorship election was preceded by weeks of intense campaigning, legal disputes over ballot participation and heightened security across the state.
More than 15 political parties participated in the election, while thousands of security personnel were deployed to maintain order during voting and the subsequent collation of results.
The contest was widely viewed as a major political test, drawing interest from political leaders, civil society groups and election observers across Nigeria.
Tinubu congratulates Adeleke
Before Adeleke’s remarks, President Tinubu had issued a congratulatory message following the governor’s victory.
The President’s message came shortly after INEC’s declaration, acknowledging the conclusion of the electoral process.
Adeleke’s renewed endorsement of Tinubu is expected to attract political attention because it comes at a time when conversations about alliances and positioning ahead of the 2027 presidential election are already gaining momentum.
Focus shifts to second term
With the governorship election concluded, attention is expected to shift toward Adeleke’s second-term agenda as he prepares to continue leading Osun State for another four years.
The governor’s victory speech focused on gratitude to voters, appreciation for the electoral process and his commitment to working with stakeholders while reaffirming his political support for President Tinubu’s future presidential bid.
