Real Reason Why Adeleke Won Osun Election — Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stated that Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party secured his victory in the recent Osun State governorship election because President Bola Tinubu ensured the electoral process remained free and fair.

Wike shared this perspective during a Tuesday inspection tour evaluating flood-impacted zones within the Federal Capital Territory.

Reacting to the August 15 Osun governorship contest, Wike rejected assertions that the Federal Government meddled in the voting process, pointing out that Tinubu permitted democracy to operate without interference.

The minister emphasized that the election’s resolution proved the Federal administration refrained from leveraging state apparatus against the opposition.

Wike said, “The President called him… congratulating him (Adeleke). What does it tell you? If Tinubu did not allow a free and fair election, would they have won? No!”

The minister likewise countered narratives concerning federal might dictating poll outcomes, drawing from his personal encounters with past electoral battles.

He noted, “When you say force of the federal government… ask those who have survived it, though—people like me who survived federal might. It’s not by saying ‘they say, they say.’ It’s not true.”

Furthermore, Wike advised political analysts to separate off-season governorship races from general presidential elections, maintaining that a state-level outcome does not reliably forecast a national presidential race.

The minister’s remarks trail closely behind Adeleke’s triumph over All Progressives Congress flagbearer Bola Oyebamiji during the Osun electoral showdown.

Adeleke accumulated 511,067 votes compared to Oyebamiji’s 444,815 votes, handing the sitting governor a winning gap of 66,252 votes.

Adeleke claimed victories across 19 out of the state’s 30 local government areas, leaving Oyebamiji with 11.