Tinubu allowed free, fair election that gave Adeleke Osun victory – Wike

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, asserted that President Bola Tinubu's commitment to a free and fair election enabled Governor Ademola Adeleke's victory in the Osun State governorship election held on August 15. Wike made these remarks during an inspection tour of flood-affected areas in the FCT, directly countering allegations that the federal government manipulated the poll to favor the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

"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. He argued that Adeleke's win demonstrated the Tinubu administration's refusal to use federal power to suppress opposition, suggesting that such a victory would have been impossible if the President had attempted to influence the outcome.

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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!

Wike, drawing from his own political experience, dismissed claims of federal might being used, urging critics to provide evidence rather than rely on hearsay. He specifically refuted suggestions that federal influence secured the win for APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji. Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, defeated Oyebamiji by a margin of 66,252 votes, securing 511,067 votes to Oyebamiji's 444,815, and winning in 19 out of 30 local government areas.

However, the minister cautioned against extrapolating the Osun election results to the 2027 presidential election, emphasizing the distinct political dynamics of off-cycle governorship contests versus national presidential races. Wike also addressed the persistent flooding issues in the FCT, warning against politicizing the problem and urging a focus on its root causes. He noted that both government and residents share responsibility, particularly concerning obstructed waterways and drainage channels, and rejected the notion that poor residents were primarily responsible for encroachments, pointing instead to long-standing structures built by wealthy individuals.

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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.