ADELEKE REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR TINUBU AHEAD OF 2027 PRESIDENTIAL POLL

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has reaffirmed his decision to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, insisting that he has no intention of withdrawing his endorsement.

Adeleke made his position known on Sunday in Osogbo when he received the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Ajibola Basiru, and other APC chieftains at the Osun State Government House.

The governor explained that his support for Tinubu was based on his commitment to keeping his word and maintaining political relationships. He recalled that he had previously supported the President's preferred candidates during the contest for leadership positions in the National Assembly.

According to Adeleke, Tinubu had contacted him through his Chief of Staff during the National Assembly leadership contest and requested his support for Godswill Akpabio as Senate President and Tajudeen Abbas as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The governor said he subsequently mobilised members of the National Assembly from Osun State to back the President's preferred candidates, describing the action as evidence of his willingness to honour political commitments.

Adeleke also recalled Tinubu's intervention during the period when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission froze the Osun State Government's account shortly before the August 15 governorship election.

He said these experiences contributed to his decision to endorse Tinubu and dismissed suggestions that his support was merely a political strategy.

The Osun governor maintained that he does not make promises he does not intend to keep, stressing that his endorsement of the President should not be interpreted as an empty political statement.

He also appealed to political stakeholders in Osun State to put their differences aside and work collectively for the development of the state.

Speaking after the meeting, Basiru said the APC was prepared to cooperate with Adeleke and his supporters in securing a strong electoral performance for Tinubu in Osun State in the 2027 presidential election.

The APC National Secretary claimed that a collaboration between the APC and Accord could help deliver up to 1.5 million votes for Tinubu in the state, based on the parties' performances in the recent governorship election.

Basiru said Adeleke's commitment went beyond merely endorsing Tinubu, claiming that the governor had also promised to campaign vigorously for the President across Osun State.

He congratulated Adeleke on his victory in the governorship election and thanked him for attending the burial of his mother, Alhaja Sidikatu Basiru.

Basiru further urged residents and political actors in Osun to embrace peace and move beyond disagreements arising from the governorship election.

He also called on members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers to resolve their internal differences, while urging political stakeholders to focus on infrastructure development and improving living conditions across the state.

The development adds another dimension to the political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly as prominent politicians continue to announce their positions on the presidential contest.

Adeleke's continued support for Tinubu is also significant given his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party and the political rivalry between the PDP and APC at the national level.