Adeleke’s Endorsement of Tinubu for 2027: A Strategic Calculation for Osun’s Development
The Report
As reported by TheCitizen, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has publicly endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027. Speaking after inspecting the ongoing reconstruction of the Ibadan-Ile-Ife-Ilesa expressway, Governor Adeleke framed the endorsement as a moral and development-driven action, citing Tinubu’s ancestral roots in Osun State as a key factor. He stated, “I am the governor of the ancestral birthplace of Mr President. How can I have my own in the saddle and think twice before embracing him? I need no persuasion to act as I have declared repeatedly, our endorsement of Mr President.”
“I am the governor of the ancestral birthplace of Mr President. How can I have my own in the saddle and think twice before embracing him? I need no persuasion to act as I have declared repeatedly, our endorsement of Mr President.”
The governor also expressed gratitude for the federal government’s approval of road projects in the state, including the Ibadan-Iwo-Osogbo and Gbongan-Akoda roads, and indicated he would seek further approvals for the Osogbo-Ilesa road. He contrasted his stance with that of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, whom he described as a “selfish politician” seeking to tarnish the President’s image in the state. The report also noted that Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda separately congratulated Tinubu on his emergence as the APC presidential candidate.
Nigeria Time News Analysis
Governor Adeleke’s endorsement of President Tinubu for 2027 is a significant political maneuver that transcends party loyalty. While Adeleke is a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), his public backing of the APC’s Tinubu signals a pragmatic shift toward securing federal infrastructure investments for Osun State. From a Nigerian governance perspective, this move underscores the growing trend of state governors—regardless of party affiliation—aligning with the presidency to unlock development projects. For Osun, a state that has historically struggled with federal road infrastructure, the endorsement appears directly tied to tangible deliverables: the reconstruction of the Ibadan-Ile-Ife-Ilesa expressway and the promise of additional road approvals.
Looking at the broader ECOWAS implications, Adeleke’s endorsement reflects a regional dynamic where subnational leaders in West Africa often leverage personal or ancestral ties to central governments to secure resources. In Nigeria’s federal system, such endorsements can reshape political alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections, potentially weakening opposition unity. For the Nigerian diaspora, this development highlights the importance of infrastructure as a political currency—roads like the Ibadan-Ile-Ife-Ilesa expressway are critical for economic activity and diaspora investment in the Southwest.
Historically, Osun State has been a battleground for political influence between the APC and PDP. Adeleke’s endorsement, while framed as non-partisan, may also be a strategic move to isolate his political rival, Gboyega Oyetola, who is Tinubu’s cousin and a former APC governor of Osun. By positioning himself as the President’s ally in the state, Adeleke aims to consolidate federal support and marginalize Oyetola’s influence ahead of the 2025 local government elections and the 2027 general elections.
Regional Context
The Ibadan-Ile-Ife-Ilesa expressway is a critical artery for the Southwest region, connecting Oyo, Osun, and Ekiti states. Its reconstruction, funded by the federal government, is part of a broader infrastructure push under the Tinubu administration. For West Africa, improved road networks in Nigeria’s Southwest enhance trade connectivity with neighboring countries like Benin and Togo, supporting ECOWAS’s goal of regional economic integration. Adeleke’s endorsement, therefore, has implications beyond partisan politics—it signals a willingness to prioritize development over party lines, a model that could influence governance approaches across the region.
Original Reporting By:
TheCitizen