Tinubu Receives Osun Governor Adeleke at Aso Rock Following Re-election Victory

ABUJA— President Bola Tinubu on Thursday received Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State at the Presidential Villa, in their first face-to-face meeting since Mr. Adeleke secured re-election in the August 15 governorship poll.

Governor Adeleke arrived at the forecourt of the Aso Rock Villa at 5:25 p.m., accompanied by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The governor was dressed in navy blue traditional attire.

He was later joined by senior officials from Osun State, including the Director-General of his Campaign Council, Senator Lere Oyewumi; campaign council member, Mr. Sunday Bisi; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Akinleye Kazeem; and Hon. Bamidele Salam, member of the House of Representatives representing Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency.

The meeting followed President Tinubu’s congratulatory message to Mr. Adeleke days after the election, in which the President described the outcome as evidence of the continued resilience of democracy in Nigeria. Mr. Tinubu also urged the governor to use his renewed mandate to foster unity across political lines in Osun State.

Election Results and Political Alignment

Mr. Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party, defeated the All Progressives Congress candidate, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji. According to results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr. Adeleke won in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Mr. Oyebamiji carried 11.

In the aftermath of the poll, Governor Adeleke publicly declared support for President Tinubu ahead of the forthcoming presidential election. Speaking in a television interview, however, the governor said the endorsement was not premised on any political agreement with the Federal Government.

“No, I did not reach an agreement with Mr. President,” Mr. Adeleke said. “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 added that with a Yoruba president in office for the first time in several years, “maybe I will give him another chance to develop his reforms.”

Call for Federal Projects

The governor used the meeting to appeal for the extension of federal infrastructure projects to Osun, with particular emphasis on the rehabilitation and construction of federal roads linking the state to other parts of the country.

Mr. Adeleke also indicated his willingness to work with individuals and political actors aligned with the President in Osun, provided their activities were aimed at supporting the administration’s agenda.

“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 stated support for President Tinubu, the governor ruled out an immediate return to the APC.
“As I’m talking to you right now, I’m not even thinking about that. It’s not on my agenda,” Mr. Adeleke said.