Wike reveals what he told Adeleke to do after winning Osun election

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that he instructed Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to publicly thank President Bola Tinubu and reaffirm his support for the President after winning the August 15 governorship election.

Wike disclosed this during a media parley on Wednesday, where he explained his relationship with Adeleke and his strategy during the Osun governorship election.

According to the minister, his main concern was whether Adeleke would remain committed to supporting Tinubu if he emerged victorious in the election.

Wike said he called Adeleke while he was in Croatia and asked if he would maintain his support for Tinubu after winning the election.

“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.”

The former Rivers State governor said he later instructed Adeleke to issue a public statement thanking Tinubu 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.’”

Wike added that he also advised Adeleke to present his Certificate of Return to Tinubu after receiving it from the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“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.’”

Explaining his motive, Wike said the move was part of a broader political strategy aimed at weakening the opposition coalition seeking 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 a coalition coming to the… to come and curry favor, when Adeleke issued that statement, ADC withdrew.”

Adeleke, who contested the election on the platform of the Accord Party, defeated the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, according to results declared by INEC.