Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, saying he will not withdraw his endorsement after giving his word.
Adeleke made this known on Sunday in Osogbo when he received the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, and other prominent members of the party at the Osun State Government House.
The governor explained that his decision to support Tinubu was not mere political manoeuvring, recalling that he had previously honoured his commitment to support the President’s preferred candidates for the leadership positions of the National Assembly.
He said he also appreciated Tinubu’s gesture of empathy when the Osun State Government’s account was frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), shortly before the August 15 governorship election.
Adeleke said his reputation for keeping his word informed his decision to mobilise Osun lawmakers to support Senator Godswill Akpabio and Tajudeen Abbas for the Senate Presidency and Speakership of the House of Representatives respectively.
He urged political stakeholders in Osun State to put their differences aside and work together for the development of the state.
Speaking after the meeting, Basiru said the visit was also aimed at congratulating Adeleke on his victory in the governorship election and appreciating him for the support he gave during the burial of his mother, Alhaja Sidikatu Basiru.
Basiru, who was accompanied by former Deputy Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adegboye Akintunde, APC Assistant State Secretary, Waheed Adediran, and former lawmaker Adeoye Adelakun, said Adeleke had paid a condolence visit to his family and attended his mother’s burial ceremony.
He further thanked Adeleke for endorsing Tinubu and expressed the APC’s readiness to work with the governor to secure a massive victory for the President in Osun in 2027.
According to Basiru, Adeleke has not only endorsed Tinubu but has also promised to campaign for him ahead of the presidential election.
He projected that the collaboration between the APC and Accord could help Tinubu secure as many as 1.5 million votes in Osun State, using the results of the recent governorship election as a basis.
Basiru said the APC secured about 46 per cent of the votes in the governorship election, while the combined strength of the APC and Accord could provide close to one million votes, with the presidential election potentially increasing the figure to 1.5 million.
He also appealed to Osun residents to embrace peace and urged members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to resolve their internal disagreements.
Basiru said political actors should also move beyond disputes arising from the governorship election and focus on infrastructure, development and improving living conditions for residents.