The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party won the recently concluded Osun State governorship election because President Bola Tinubu allowed the poll to be conducted freely and fairly.
Wike made the statement on Tuesday while speaking during an inspection tour of flood-affected areas in the Federal Capital Territory.
Reacting to the August 15 Osun governorship election, the minister dismissed allegations that the Federal Government manipulated the poll, arguing that Tinubu allowed the democratic process to take its course.
According to Wike, the outcome of the election demonstrated that the Federal Government did not use its influence to undermine the opposition.
“The President called him… congratulating him (Adeleke). What does it tell you? If Tinubu did not allow a free and fair election, would they have won? No!” Wike said.
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The minister also rejected claims that federal might was deployed to influence the outcome of the election, drawing on his own experience of previous electoral contests.
“When you say force of the federal government… ask those who have survived it, though—people like me who survived federal might. It’s not by saying ‘they say, they say.’ It’s not true,” he stated.
Wike urged political observers to distinguish between off-cycle governorship elections and presidential elections, arguing that the outcome of a state election should not automatically be interpreted as an indication of what would happen in the 2027 presidential contest.
Adeleke defeated the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in the Osun election, securing 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815 votes.
The incumbent won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victory in 11.
Wike speaks on FCT flooding
Wike also addressed the recurring flooding in parts of the FCT, urging residents and political observers to consider the underlying causes rather than politicising the problem.
The minister said some critics had used the recent flooding to attack the administration instead of acknowledging its achievements in other areas.
He maintained that government officials and residents both had responsibilities in preventing flooding and addressing drainage challenges.
Wike also rejected suggestions that poor residents were responsible for major structural encroachments on waterways and other restricted areas.
According to him, many of the structures obstructing drainage channels were built by wealthy Nigerians and had existed for years before the current administration.
