Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that he asked Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to publicly thank President Bola Tinubu following his victory in the August 15 governorship election.
Wike made the disclosure during a media parley he hosted on Wednesday, which was broadcast by Channels Television.
The FCT minister was speaking about his relationship with Adeleke and his role during the Osun governorship election.
According to Wike, his major concern was whether Adeleke, who had previously told him that he supported Tinubu, would remain loyal to the President if he emerged victorious in the election.
He said he contacted Adeleke while in Croatia to confirm whether the governor would maintain his support for Tinubu after winning the poll.
“My concern: if Adeleke wins, will he still support Mr. President? And I called him, because that’s my own interest. I called him, I said ‘Listen, you have told me you support Mr. President. Are you going to keep to it?’ He said he was going to keep to it. I said, ‘Okay.’
“I wished him good luck. I don’t need to go to Osun.”
Wike said he subsequently instructed Adeleke to publicly reaffirm his support for Tinubu and appreciate the President for what he described as a free and fair election.
“After that election, go and ask Adeleke. I told Adeleke, I called him when I was in Croatia. I said, ‘You told me you support Mr. President?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ ‘Now you have won, issue a statement. Issue a statement that you still will support Mr. President, and thanking him for a free and fair election.’”
The minister also disclosed that he asked Adeleke to take his Certificate of Return to Tinubu after receiving the document.
“I don’t need to go and tell anybody. I don’t need to go and tell Mr. President. I don’t need to. He issued a statement. I also told him, ‘Adeleke, when you receive your Certificate of Return, go and present it to Mr. President.’”
Wike explained that his actions formed part of a political strategy aimed at weakening the opposition coalition he said was seeking to gain influence ahead of the 2027 elections.
“I don’t need to call Mr. President ‘I want to…’ No, I don’t do that. It is my job. What was that strategy? To knock off these people you call coalition coming to the… to come and curry favor, when Adeleke issued that statement, ADC withdrew.”
Adeleke, who contested the Osun governorship election under the Accord Party, defeated the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, according to results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Shortly after being declared the winner, Adeleke publicly thanked Tinubu and disclosed that the President had called to congratulate him.
“And of course, I want to seize this opportunity to thank Mr. President. Mr. President has called me and he has congratulated me. And I thank you, Mr. President, for making sure democracy lives on, because you fought for it, Mr. President,” Adeleke said.
Adeleke secured 511,067 votes to defeat Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. The incumbent won in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victory in 11.