Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has renewed his endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027, describing the President as a “son of Osun State” after securing re-election in the state.
Adeleke made the declaration on Sunday while addressing journalists after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared him winner of Saturday’s Osun governorship election.
The governor thanked Tinubu for what he described as the President’s support for a free and fair election, saying the development demonstrated a commitment to the democratic process.
“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.
“Mr. President is a son of Osun State, and I hereby reaffirm my earlier endorsement of him for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.”
Adeleke’s latest declaration was not the first time he has backed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
He had repeatedly endorsed the President during the build-up to the Osun election, including after moving from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Accord Party.
In May, Adeleke described his support for Tinubu as a decision driven by the interests of Osun and the Yoruba people, referring to the President as “our own son, father and leader.”
The governor also reaffirmed the endorsement during his Accord Party campaign in June, saying his support for Tinubu was “unshaken and total.”
The renewed endorsement came shortly after Adeleke was declared winner of the August 15 governorship election, giving him another four-year term in office.
Adeleke polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes. African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salaam finished third with 17,180 votes.
The governor also acknowledged a congratulatory telephone call from Tinubu after the election.
“Yes. This is no victor, no vanquished. I want them to come over. I am expecting Oyebamiji to even, as a civilised person, to call me and congratulate me,” he said.
He added that Tinubu had already called to congratulate him.
“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.”
Tinubu later congratulated Adeleke on his victory, describing the result as a reflection of the people’s will.
The relationship between Adeleke and Tinubu has attracted political attention because the two politicians belong to different political camps.
Tinubu is the leader of the All Progressives Congress, while Adeleke contested the Osun governorship election on the Accord platform after leaving the PDP.
Adeleke’s continued support for Tinubu therefore represents a notable political alignment ahead of the 2027 presidential election, particularly in the South-West.
With the Osun election now concluded, attention is expected to shift to governance, the implementation of Adeleke’s second-term agenda and the wider political calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.
