Osun: Adeleke Campaign Council Denies Secret Deal Behind Tinubu’s 2027 Endorsement

Governor Ademola Adeleke’s Imole Campaign Council has rejected claims that his decision to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid was based on a political agreement between the two leaders.

The denial followed a statement by Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, after Adeleke’s victory in the August 15 Osun governorship election. Keyamo congratulated the governor and wrote, “Agreement is agreement,” after Adeleke publicly endorsed Tinubu for another presidential term.

The remark quickly generated speculation on social media, with some users interpreting it as evidence of a private political arrangement behind Adeleke’s endorsement. The Imole Campaign Council, however, said there was no such agreement.

Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesperson for the campaign council, said Adeleke’s support for Tinubu was based on the President’s performance and reforms rather than any pre-election or post-election political bargain.

“Do not undermine the resilience of Osun people. There is no agreement,” Olajengbesi said in a post on X while responding to Keyamo.

He argued that Adeleke’s support for Tinubu should not be used to diminish the role played by Osun voters in returning the governor to office. According to him, the electorate made its choice independently, while the President’s role was to ensure that the democratic process was respected.

“Our support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is based on his performance and reforms that have strengthened states economically,” Olajengbesi said. He added that Osun voters had chosen Adeleke and that Tinubu had simply allowed the electoral process to take its course.

The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Adeleke the winner after he secured 511,067 votes, defeating APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. The result gave Adeleke a second term as governor.

Adeleke had earlier publicly endorsed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, describing him as a son of Osun State. Keyamo’s “agreement is agreement” comment came shortly after that endorsement and has since intensified debate over whether there was more to the political alignment than the governor’s stated support for Tinubu’s record.