The campaign team of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has denied the existence of any agreement between the governor and the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the 2027 presidential election.
The denial followed a statement by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in which he appeared to refer to an “agreement” while acknowledging Adeleke’s support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Keyamo, in a post on X on Sunday, thanked Adeleke for what he described as his “public and unequivocal endorsement” of Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.
“Thank you, Governor Ademola Adeleke, for the public and unequivocal endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 Presidential Election. You are a man of integrity and honour. ‘Agreement is agreement,’” Keyamo wrote.
The remark triggered fresh debate over the political relationship between Adeleke and Tinubu, with some interpreting Keyamo’s words as a possible reference to an understanding between the two politicians.
Adeleke’s campaign team, however, rejected the suggestion of a political bargain, insisting that the governor’s support for Tinubu was based on the President’s performance and reforms.
“Do not undermine the resilience of Osun people. There is no agreement,” the campaign team said.
“Our support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is based on his performance and reforms that have strengthened states economically.
“Osun people voted @AAdeleke_01. President Tinubu simply ensured democratic rules were respected.”
Adeleke’s endorsement of Tinubu is not new.
The governor had repeatedly expressed support for the President’s bid for a second term, despite belonging to a different political party.
In March, Adeleke reaffirmed his support for Tinubu, describing him as a leader of the South-West and saying his endorsement of the President was in the interest of the region.
The governor also reiterated his position during his re-election campaign, maintaining that his support for Tinubu was based on the President’s policies and development initiatives.
Adeleke’s position has attracted considerable political attention because he contested the Osun governorship election on the platform of the Accord Party, while Tinubu is the leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The governor had previously been a member of the Peoples Democratic Party before defecting to Accord ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
Before the election, there were also reports and political discussions about a possible move by Adeleke into the APC and his relationship with Tinubu. The possibility generated opposition among some APC members in Osun who argued that Adeleke should not be given an automatic governorship ticket if he joined the party.
Despite the political differences, Adeleke maintained his support for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential ambition.
The governor has also praised the Federal Government for projects and interventions in Osun, including road infrastructure, while calling for stronger cooperation between the state and federal governments.
However, his campaign team has now drawn a distinction between that political support and any alleged agreement.
The team said Osun voters were responsible for Adeleke’s victory and warned against undermining the electorate by suggesting that the outcome of the election was determined by an arrangement between political leaders.
Adeleke was declared winner of Saturday’s Osun governorship election after polling 511,067 votes, defeating the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes.
Adeleke won in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.
Following the declaration, Adeleke thanked Tinubu for what he described as the President’s role in ensuring a free and fair electoral process and reaffirmed his support for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid.
It was in response to that endorsement that Keyamo made his “agreement is agreement” remark.
However, neither Keyamo nor the Federal Government has publicly disclosed the details of any agreement between Tinubu and Adeleke.
There is also no publicly established evidence showing that Adeleke’s endorsement was exchanged for electoral support, federal intervention or any other political concession.
The controversy, therefore, centres on the interpretation of Keyamo’s statement rather than an established political pact.
While the minister’s choice of words has fuelled speculation about the relationship between Adeleke and the Tinubu administration, the governor’s campaign team insists that his support for the President is voluntary and based on his assessment of the administration’s performance.
The team maintained that Adeleke’s victory belonged to the people of Osun and should not be attributed to any agreement between the governor and the Federal Government.
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