I’m Supporting Tinubu Because He Is a Yoruba Man, Not Over Any Agreement — Adeleke

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has said his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections is not based on any agreement reached with the Federal Government.

Adeleke made the clarification during a live interview on Sunday Politics, while speaking about his relationship with the President and his political position ahead of the 2027 elections.

The governor’s comments came shortly after the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, congratulated him on his victory in the Osun governorship election in a post on X, describing Adeleke as a man of integrity and honour.

“Agreement is agreement,” Keyamo wrote.

However, when asked whether he had reached an agreement with President Tinubu, Adeleke dismissed the suggestion.

“No, I did not reach an agreement with Mr President,” the governor said.

Adeleke explained that his support for Tinubu was influenced partly by the fact that the President is a Yoruba man, as well as his assessment of the administration’s development projects.

“My support is just based on Mr President being a Yoruba man and his projects. And I believe that all the federal roads that he has started, I want to encourage him not to forget Osun too,” he said.

The governor noted that several federal roads connect Osun State with other parts of the country, urging Tinubu to extend more of his development projects to the state.

“I feel like, since a Yoruba man has won for the first time, maybe I will give him another chance to develop his reforms,” Adeleke added.

Adeleke also said he would be willing to work with political allies of the President in Osun State as long as their activities were aimed at supporting Tinubu.

“As long as they say, ‘I’m doing it for Mr President,’ I don’t mind. I will work with them,” he said.

Despite his support for the President, Adeleke ruled out any immediate plan to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party under which Tinubu is seeking re-election in 2027.

“As I’m talking to you right now, I’m not even thinking about that. It’s not on my agenda,” he said when asked if he would return to the APC.

The governor stressed that remaining outside the APC would not prevent him from supporting Tinubu.

Adeleke also spoke about the political disputes surrounding his administration, saying he was prepared to move beyond the battles associated with the 2026 governorship election and pursue political solutions to outstanding issues.

He said the dispute involving local government administration was being addressed through political discussions, while efforts were also ongoing to resolve other issues.

On the legal dispute involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Adeleke said he had been directed to drop the matter following President Tinubu’s intervention.

“Mr President has told me. He called me. What more do I want?” he said.

The governor further disclosed that his administration was working on measures to secure the release of some of his supporters who remain in detention, an issue he had previously raised.

Adeleke’s comments further underline his decision to support Tinubu in 2027 while maintaining his position outside the APC.