I told Adeleke to thank Tinubu for his victory, present certificate of return to him — Wike boasts
By Mercy Ajekigbe
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says he asked Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to issue a statement, thanking President Bola Tinubu after his victory in the Osun state governorship election.
Wike disclosed this during his media parley on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, which was aired on Channels Television.
Speaking at the parley, he explained his relationship with Adeleke and the Osun state governorship election.
The minister said Adeleke had previously expressed his support for Tinubu ahead of the election, but he was concerned about whether that position would remain unchanged.
“My concern: if Adeleke wins, will he still support Mr. President? And I called him, because that’s my own interest. I called him, I said ‘Listen, you have told me you support Mr. President. Are you going to keep to it?’ He said he was going to keep to it. I said, ‘Okay.’
“I wished him good luck. I don’t need to go to Osun.”
According to Wike, after Adeleke’s victory on August 15, 2026 with a margin of 66,252 votes, he reportedly called him while he (Wike) was in Croatia, to keep his promise by issuing a statement of appreciation to President Tinubu for his support after the election.
“Now you have won, issue a statement. Issue a statement that you still will support Mr. President, and thanking him for a free and fair election,” Wike said.
He added that he also asked Adeleke to present his Certificate of Return to Tinubu after receiving it, which the latter did afterwards.
Wike said his actions were part of a strategy to dismantle the opposition parties’ coalition, strengthening political influence ahead of the 2027 elections.
