Governor Ademola Adeleke has reaffirmed his commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, clarifying that the ongoing local government leadership crisis in Osun State is a result of political friction with Minister Gboyega Oyetola rather than the presidency
In a significant political declaration on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State reaffirmed his endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027. Addressing a gathering of cabinet members and top government officials in Osogbo, Adeleke dismissed rumors that the current paralysis of local governments in the state had soured his relationship with the presidency. The Governor, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Accord Party, emphasized that his support for Tinubu is rooted in regional interest. “He represents the South-West, and I reaffirm our endorsement of Mr President for re-election in the best interest of the region,” Adeleke stated, noting that he had quietly backed Tinubu even during his tenure in the PDP.
Adeleke used the forum to shift the blame for the state’s local government crisis onto his predecessor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola. He accused Oyetola of masterminding a “siege” on council secretariats by encouraging court-sacked APC chairmen to forcefully remain in office after their tenures expired in 2025. The Governor clarified that the freezing of local government allocations and the resulting administrative deadlock were “local political vendettas” orchestrated by the Minister, rather than federal directives from the President. “Our problem is with Minister Oyetola who has not gotten over his loss of 2022. We hold Mr. Oyetola accountable for the local government crisis rather than the President,” he added.
Beyond the 2027 presidential race, the Governor also celebrated the rapid expansion of the Accord Party, which he officially joined in December 2025 ahead of the August 2026 governorship election. Describing the state as having “become yellow,” Adeleke praised residents for their mass embrace of his new political home and directed officials to relaunch membership registration across all 332 wards. As the state prepares for the upcoming gubernatorial poll, Adeleke’s strategy of backing a rival party’s presidential candidate while seeking his own re-election on a different platform highlights the complex, pragmatic realignments currently defining South-West politics.
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