The Osun State Government has urged residents not to interpret Governor Ademola Adeleke’s endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid as a betrayal, saying the decision was made in the interest of the state.
Rasheed made the clarification during an interview on Arise TV, stressing that Adeleke’s support for Tinubu had already been publicly declared before the August 15 governorship election. He therefore dismissed suggestions that the governor’s endorsement was a reward for his electoral victory or a political arrangement reached after the poll.
“The endorsement predates this election victory,” Rasheed said.
Adeleke was declared the winner of the August 15 governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), securing another term in office. Reports on the election show that the incumbent, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party, defeated the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
However, Adeleke’s endorsement of Tinubu had been on record for months before the election. In March 2026, the governor reaffirmed his support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, describing the President as a leader whose support was important to the interests of Osun and the wider South-West. The governor maintained that political disagreements over local issues would not affect his position on Tinubu.
In May, Adeleke gave a more detailed explanation of his decision, describing the endorsement as a “moral and development-driven” action taken in the interest of Osun State and the Yoruba people. He also referred to Tinubu as “our own son, father and leader,” pointing to the President’s connection with Osun as his ancestral home.
According to Rasheed, the governor’s position is largely influenced by the need to maintain a productive relationship between Osun State and the Federal Government. He argued that cooperation between the two levels of government is important for attracting federal infrastructure, investment and development projects to the state.
Among the projects cited by the governor and his spokesperson is the ongoing reconstruction of the Ibadan-Ile Ife-Ilesa expressway. Adeleke has repeatedly commended the Federal Government for the project, saying it would improve connectivity and facilitate economic activities across communities in Osun and neighbouring states.
Other federal road projects mentioned include the Ibadan-Iwo-Osogbo road and the Gbongan-Akoda road. Adeleke has also appealed to the Federal Government to consider the reconstruction of the Osogbo-Ilesa road.
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The governor has further pointed to the Federal Government’s interventions as evidence of the practical benefits that can arise from cooperation between state and federal authorities. In March, he specifically cited the ongoing Ibadan-Ilesa road reconstruction as an example of federal power being used for development rather than political interference.
Adeleke’s administration has also previously sought federal intervention on projects and funds relating to roads rehabilitated by the state government. In May, the governor appealed for reimbursement for federal roads repaired with state resources, while expressing appreciation for federal approvals on other major road projects.
Rasheed therefore maintained that the governor’s political decisions should be understood from the perspective of what he considers beneficial to Osun residents rather than through the lens of party rivalry.
“Mr Governor is only doing the right thing that is in the best interest of Osun people,” the spokesperson stated.
The clarification also comes against the backdrop of Adeleke’s political transition from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Accord Party ahead of the 2026 governorship election. Despite the change in platform, Adeleke repeatedly maintained his support for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential ambition. In June, while flagging off his re-election campaign, the governor again described Tinubu as his “son, father and leader” and said his support for the President remained firm.
The development highlights the increasingly fluid political alliances ahead of the 2027 general election, where traditional party boundaries are being reshaped by regional interests, governance priorities and individual political calculations.
For Adeleke, however, his spokesperson insists that the decision to back Tinubu was not an afterthought arising from his victory at the polls. Rather, it was a position publicly established months before the election and presented by the governor as part of a broader strategy to secure federal cooperation and development opportunities for Osun State.
