Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has welcomed Governor Ademola Adeleke’s renewed endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, following the governor’s victory in Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
Adeleke, in his victory speech after being declared winner of the August 15 poll, reaffirmed his support for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid and thanked the President for what he described as his role in ensuring a free and fair election in the state.
The governor, who secured a fresh four-year mandate after defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, described Tinubu as a “son of Osun State” and restated his earlier endorsement of the President for a second term.
“At this point, I must deeply appreciate Mr President, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his strong support for a free and fair election.
“Mr President is a son of Osun State and I hereby reaffirm my earlier endorsement of him for a second term in the 2027 presidential election,” Adeleke said.
Keyamo responded to the declaration in a post on X and Facebook, thanking Adeleke for what he described as his “public and unequivocal endorsement” of Tinubu.
“You are a man of integrity and honour. Agreement is agreement,” the minister wrote.
The phrase immediately stirred political speculation, with observers questioning whether Keyamo’s reference to an “agreement” suggested a political understanding between Adeleke and Tinubu.
However, Adeleke’s Imole Campaign Council rejected any suggestion that the governor’s support for Tinubu was based on a political bargain.
The council’s spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, said Adeleke’s backing was based on his assessment of Tinubu’s administration and not on any agreement concerning the Osun governorship election.
“Do not undermine the resilience of Osun people. There is no agreement,” Olajengbesi said.
“Our support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is based on his performance and reforms that have strengthened states economically.
“Osun people voted Ademola Adeleke. President Tinubu simply ensured democratic rules were respected,” he added.
The clarification was apparently aimed at drawing a line between Adeleke’s political support for Tinubu and any suggestion that his re-election was linked to a deal with the Federal Government.
Nevertheless, Keyamo’s remark has added fresh intrigue to a political relationship that has attracted considerable attention in the South-West ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adeleke had publicly endorsed Tinubu before Saturday’s election, despite contesting the governorship under the Accord Party rather than the President’s APC.
His decision to renew the endorsement immediately after securing another term has therefore given the issue additional political significance.
The development has also revived speculation over Adeleke’s long-term political future, particularly against the backdrop of the crisis that affected the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the Osun election.
Before the poll, political opponents had questioned Adeleke’s decision to contest under Accord, with some alleging that the party was being used primarily as a vehicle for securing his re-election.
There had also been speculation about whether Adeleke could eventually realign with the APC or another political platform because of his increasingly cordial relationship with Tinubu.
There is, however, no indication that Adeleke has decided to leave Accord or join the APC.
The governor’s campaign council has expressly denied the existence of any political agreement with Tinubu, while attributing Adeleke’s support for the President to his assessment of the administration’s policies and reforms.
The political significance of the relationship nonetheless extends beyond Osun, as parties and politicians continue to reposition themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Adeleke’s renewed endorsement also comes against the backdrop of Tinubu’s own political roots in Osun and the President’s interest in maintaining a strong political presence across the South-West.
The governor’s victory speech was not limited to his relationship with the President. Adeleke also thanked Osun voters for renewing his mandate and promised to use his second term to accelerate development across the state.
He further extended an olive branch to his opponents, urging all political actors to move beyond the election and work together for the progress of Osun.
Adeleke’s victory came after a closely contested election in which he defeated Oyebamiji to secure another four-year term.
The outcome has already generated competing political interpretations, particularly over its implications for the APC and the 2027 presidential contest.
Tinubu has since congratulated Adeleke on his re-election, further underscoring the cordial relationship between the two politicians.
For now, the question of whether Adeleke will remain with Accord throughout his second term or eventually make another political move remains unanswered.
What is clear, however, is that the governor has publicly committed himself to Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid, while Keyamo’s “agreement is agreement” remark has added a new layer of political speculation.
For Adeleke’s camp, the position is straightforward: there was no political bargain, and the governor’s support for Tinubu is based on the President’s performance.
For political observers, the evolving relationship between the two men will remain one of the issues to watch as the 2027 political realignments gather momentum.