Adeleke won because Tinubu allowed free, fair election – Wike

Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike asserted that Governor Ademola Adeleke's victory in the Osun State governorship election was a direct result of President Bola Tinubu allowing the poll to be free and fair. Wike made these remarks during an inspection tour of flood-affected areas in the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday, directly countering claims that the Federal Government manipulated the election outcome.

"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 stated, emphasizing that the election's result demonstrated the Federal Government's non-interference. He drew upon his own experiences with past elections, pushing back against the notion of federal might being used to sway results, arguing, "It’s not by saying ‘they say, they say.’ It’s not true."

Wike urged political observers to differentiate between state governorship elections and presidential contests. He cautioned that the outcome of an off-season governorship poll should not be automatically extrapolated to predict the results of a presidential election. This distinction, he suggested, is crucial for accurate political analysis.

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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!

The minister's comments follow Governor Adeleke's defeat of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in the Osun governorship election. Adeleke secured 511,067 votes compared to Oyebamiji's 444,815, achieving a margin of 66,252 votes. Adeleke carried 19 of the state's 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.

Separately, Wike addressed the persistent flooding issues in parts of the FCT. He stressed the importance of examining the underlying causes rather than politicizing the problem. Wike noted that some critics used the recent flooding to attack the administration, overlooking other achievements. He also pointed out that both government officials and residents share responsibility in flood prevention efforts. Wike refuted suggestions that poor residents were solely responsible for structural encroachments on waterways, stating that many obstructive structures were built by wealthy individuals and had existed for years.

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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.