Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has revealed how he orchestrated Ademola Adeleke’s post-election outreach to President Bola Tinubu after the Osun State governor secured re-election in the August 15, 2026 Governorship poll. Wike said he specifically directed Adeleke to publicly reaffirm his support for Tinubu, thank the President for ensuring a free and fair election and personally present his Certificate of Return to him at the Presidential Villa.
The minister disclosed this on Wednesday during a media parley aired by Channels Television, saying the move was part of his strategy to frustrate the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections. Governor Adeleke, who contested the election on the platform of the Accord (A) defeated Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other contenders to retain his seat.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke winner after he polled 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815 votes, while the ADC candidate, Najeem Salaam, secured 17,180 votes. Wike said his major concern before the election was whether Adeleke would maintain his support for Tinubu if he won. “My concern was if Adeleke wins, will he still support Mr. President? And I called him. ‘You have told me you support Mr. President.
Are you going to keep to it?’ He said he was going to keep to it,” Wike said. “I said, ‘Now you have won, issue a statement that you still will support Mr. President, and thanking him for a free and fair election. I also told him, ‘Adeleke, when you receive your Certificate of Return, go and present it to Mr. President,’” Wike added.
According to him, Adeleke subsequently complied, visiting the Presidential Villa to thank Tinubu and present his certificate. He said the strategy was aimed at undermining the opposition coalition’s political calculations. “When Adeleke