FCT Minister Wike has revealed why Adeleke won Osun Governorship Election.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has attributed Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the 2026 Osun governorship election to President Bola Tinubu’s decision to allow a free and fair electoral process.
Wike made the claim on Tuesday while speaking after inspecting areas affected by flooding in the Federal Capital Territory.
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According to the minister, the outcome of the August 15 election demonstrated that the Federal Government did not deploy its influence to prevent an opposition candidate from winning.
“The President called him, congratulating him. What does it tell you? If Tinubu did not allow a free and fair election, would they have won? No,” Wike said.
Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party, defeated Bola Oyebamiji of the ruling All Progressives Congress to secure a second term.
The governor polled 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji received 444,815 votes, leaving a margin of 66,252 votes between them.
Adeleke won 19 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas, while the APC candidate secured the remaining 11.
Wike rejected suggestions that the election represented a defeat for Tinubu or demonstrated the growing influence of opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general election.
He argued that the Osun governorship election should not be interpreted as a contest between Adeleke and the Federal Government.
The former Rivers State governor also dismissed claims about the deployment of “federal might,” saying his previous electoral experiences had given him an understanding of what such interference looked like.
“When you say force of the Federal Government, ask those who have survived it—people like me who survived federal might,” he said.
“It’s not by saying, ‘They say, they say.’ It’s not true.”
Wike urged political observers to distinguish between off-cycle governorship elections and presidential contests, maintaining that the result of a state election should not automatically be viewed as an indication of what could happen nationally in 2027.
President Tinubu had congratulated Adeleke following his declaration as the winner, describing the result as a reflection of the will of Osun voters and evidence that democracy would continue to flourish under his administration.
Wike addresses flooding in Abuja
Wike also cautioned against politicising the recurring flooding in parts of the FCT without considering its underlying causes.
He said some critics had focused on the floods to attack the administration while overlooking its infrastructure projects and other achievements.
The minister maintained that both government officials and residents had responsibilities in preventing flooding, particularly by protecting drainage channels and complying with development regulations.
He rejected suggestions that low-income residents were primarily responsible for structures erected on waterways and other restricted areas.
According to him, many buildings obstructing drainage channels were owned by wealthy Nigerians and had existed for years before the current FCT administration.
Wike said the government would continue examining the causes of flooding and take measures to address structural encroachments and other factors increasing the risks to residents.
