Why I asked Adeleke to thank Tinubu after Osun election — Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has revealed why he asked Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to publicly thank President Bola Tinubu after his victory in the August 15 governorship election.

Wike disclosed this on Wednesday during his monthly media parley in Abuja, where he explained his relationship with Adeleke and his involvement in the political developments surrounding the Osun election.

The minister said his major concern was whether Adeleke, who had previously told him that he supported Tinubu, would maintain his position if he emerged victorious in the election.

Wike said he contacted Adeleke while he was in Croatia to seek assurances that he would continue supporting the President after winning the election.

“My concern: if Adeleke wins, will he still support Mr. President? And I called him, because that’s my own interest. I called him, I said ‘Listen, you have told me you support Mr. President. Are you going to keep to it?’ He said he was going to keep to it. I said, ‘Okay.’

“I wished him good luck. I don’t need to go to Osun,” Wike said.

Wike’s request after Adeleke’s victory

The FCT minister said he later instructed Adeleke to publicly reaffirm his support for Tinubu and thank the President for what he described as a free and fair election.

“After that election, go and ask Adeleke. I told Adeleke, I called him when I was in Croatia. I said, ‘You told me you support Mr. President?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ ‘Now you have won, issue a statement. Issue a statement that you still will support Mr. President, and thanking him for a free and fair election,’” he said.

Wike also disclosed that he asked Adeleke to present his Certificate of Return to President Tinubu after receiving it.

“I don’t need to call Mr. President. I don’t need to. He issued a statement. I also told him, ‘Adeleke, when you receive your Certificate of Return, go and present it to Mr. President,’” Wike added.

Wike explains political strategy

According to Wike, his actions were part of a political strategy aimed at countering the opposition coalition seeking to gain influence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said Adeleke’s public statement of support for Tinubu had political implications, particularly for the opposition coalition.

“I don’t need to call Mr. President ‘I want to…’ No, I don’t do that. It is my job. What was that strategy? To knock off these people you call coalition coming to the… to come and curry favor, when Adeleke issued that statement, ADC withdrew,” Wike said.

Adeleke thanks Tinubu after election

Adeleke, who contested the Osun governorship election on the platform of the Accord Party, defeated the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, according to results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The governor polled 511,067 votes to defeat Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes. Adeleke won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.

Shortly after he was declared winner, Adeleke publicly thanked Tinubu and disclosed that the President had called to congratulate him.

Adeleke said, “And of course, I want to seize this opportunity to thank Mr. President. Mr. President has called me and he has congratulated me. And I thank you, Mr. President, for making sure democracy lives on, because you fought for it, Mr. President.”

Wike’s disclosure comes amid heightened political activities and realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with political parties and prominent politicians already positioning themselves for the forthcoming contests.