‘No Going Back on Tinubu’s Endorsement’ — Gov Adeleke Vows, Assures 1.5m Osun Votes for APC

• Governor Ademola Adeleke has assured the APC that his endorsement of President BolaTinubu for the 2027 presidential election is firm, with the governor expected to join the campaign for the President’s re-election.

• APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, says the party is working with the Accord Party and other political forces to mobilise about 1.5 million votes for Tinubu in Osun State.

• Basiru says the APC and Accord collectively secured close to one million votes in the last governorship election, providing a strong base for the proposed presidential-election alliance.

• The APC chieftain, who visited Adeleke in Osogbo, admits that the party’s defeat in the governorship election was painful but urges its members to close ranks and work for Tinubu’s victory.

August 31, () — Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has assured the All Progressives Congress (APC) of his continued support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, as the ruling party targets about 1.5 million votes from the state.

The assurance was conveyed by the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, after a closed-door meeting with Adeleke at the Osun State Government House in Osogbo on Sunday.

He said the governor had made it clear that his support for Tinubu would go beyond an endorsement, as he had also pledged to personally campaign for the President ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Basiru, who led former APC lawmakers and other party leaders to the Government House, arrived at about 12:45pm and proceeded to the governor’s private lobby for a meeting that lasted approximately one hour.

Among those present were the Osun State Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, and the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.

Speaking with news mentioned after the meeting, Basiru said his visit had three objectives: to return Adeleke’s condolence visit following the death of his mother, congratulate the governor on his victory in the recent governorship election and appreciate him for endorsing Tinubu for a second term.

He said Adeleke had visited his family during the mourning period following the death of his mother and also attended the burial ceremonies.

“My visit here is threefold. First, I came to thank His Excellency and return the visit he made to my house when I lost my mother,” Basiru said.

He described Adeleke’s gesture as significant, recalling that the governor had attended the burial ceremony dressed in the same type of traditional attire as himself.

“He also graciously attended the burial ceremonies for my mother. He even wore a complete ‘agbada’ of the same attire that I wore. So, I came to thank him as is expected of an ‘Omoluabi’,” he said.

Basiru explained that he was unable to immediately reciprocate the visit because of the intensity of the governorship election campaign.

“I could not return the visit at that time because we were in the heat of the election and my candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, was in the race. I campaigned vigorously for his success,” he said.

Adeleke’s Tinubu Support

The APC national secretary said his second reason for visiting was to congratulate Adeleke on his victory in the governorship election, despite the governor defeating the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

“Yesterday, our candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, also congratulated him. I also came to congratulate him,” he said.

According to Basiru, the third and politically significant reason for the visit was to thank Adeleke for endorsing Tinubu and to discuss how the governor’s support could translate into votes for the President.

“Thirdly, I came to thank him for endorsing my leader and our presidential candidate and to say that we are ready to work together to ensure we deliver Osun massively for President Bola Tinubu,” he said.

Basiru said Adeleke had assured him that he would not merely endorse Tinubu but would actively participate in the campaign for the President’s second-term bid.

“The governor has said that he will not only endorse the President, he will also be on the field to campaign vigorously for President Bola Tinubu,” he said.

APC, Accord Target 1.5m Votes

The APC national secretary said the party was projecting about 1.5 million votes for Tinubu in Osun based on the voting strength of the APC and Accord Party in the recent governorship election.

Basiru said the APC secured about 46 per cent of the votes cast in the election, while the combined votes of the APC and Accord Party were close to one million.

“With the presidential election, I think we should be looking at working together to deliver about 1.5 million votes for President Tinubu,” he said.

He disclosed that the APC was already working towards integrating the Accord Party’s structure into the campaign machinery for Tinubu.

“Of course, we are working together to fuse the Accord Party structure into the campaign structure for President Tinubu.

“What we are doing is to ensure we have widespread support for President Tinubu across party lines,” Basiru said.

He explained that the proposed alliance was part of a broader strategy by the APC to bring together political forces outside its traditional structure ahead of the 2027 election.

Basiru also pointed to political developments in Anambra, Rivers and Ekiti states as examples of the broader realignment taking place ahead of the next presidential election.

No Adeleke Defection to APC

However, the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, ruled out any suggestion that Adeleke’s endorsement of Tinubu was an indication that he was preparing to defect to the APC.

Rasheed said the focus was on Tinubu’s re-election rather than a possible movement by Adeleke from his political platform into the governing party.

The clarification is coming amid heightened speculation over possible defections and alliances involving prominent politicians as parties position themselves for the 2027 elections.

Adeleke remains a prominent figure in Osun Politics, having recently secured another mandate as governor, while the APC is seeking to rebuild its political strength in the state following its defeat in the governorship election.

Basiru also acknowledged the disappointment within APC ranks following the party’s defeat in the governorship election. He said he personally campaigned in at least 12 local government areas and deployed resources towards securing victory for Oyebamiji.

“Yes, it is very painful for some of us that he defeated our party in the election. I campaigned in at least 12 local governments for my candidate and deployed all resources to ensure we won the election,” he said.

He, however, urged APC members to accept the outcome and move on, stressing that the unity and development of Osun should take priority over the political differences generated by the election.

“We won in Olorunda against Accord and narrowly lost in Osogbo, but that is a thing of the past. Let us work together for the unity and progress of Osun State,” Basiru said.

He also commended Tinubu for congratulating Adeleke after the governorship election, describing the President’s response as a demonstration of democratic values.

According to him, politicians must learn to accept both victory and defeat as essential components of democratic practice.

Basiru further appealed to political actors and residents to sustain peace following the post-election violence recorded in parts of Osun State. He said the situation had largely subsided and urged stakeholders to prevent further escalation.

“Election has come and gone. All of us belong to this place and we must work together to ensure meaningful infrastructure and a good living for the people of Osun,” he said.

He specifically called on members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to resolve their leadership disagreements peacefully.

“We want to enjoin the NURTW to resolve whatever issues they peacefully,” he said.

Basiru also urged APC members in Osun to put aside their differences and begin preparations for the 2027 presidential election.

“My message to my people in the APC is that we must close ranks and work together to ensure victory for President Tinubu,” he said.