Tinubu Allowed Free, Fair Election That Gave Adeleke Osun Victory — Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said President Bola Tinubu allowed a free and fair election that resulted in Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the August 15 Osun State governorship poll.

Wike made the statement on Tuesday while speaking with journalists during an inspection tour of flood-affected areas in the Federal Capital Territory.

The minister dismissed allegations that the Federal Government used its influence to manipulate the election in favour of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

According to Wike, Adeleke’s victory demonstrated that the Tinubu administration did not deploy federal power to frustrate opposition candidates during the election.

He argued that if the President had attempted to influence the outcome, Adeleke would not have secured victory.

“The President called him… congratulating him (Adeleke). What does it tell you? If Tinubu did not allow a free and fair election, would they have won? No!” Wike said.

The minister was responding to claims that the Federal Government had deployed its influence in Osun State to secure victory for the APC candidate.

Wike said such allegations should not be accepted without evidence, drawing from his own political experience with what he described as federal might.

“When you say force of the federal government… ask those who have survived it, though, people like me who survived federal might,” he said.

“It’s not by saying ‘they say, they say.’ It’s not true.”

Adeleke, who contested under the Accord Party, defeated Oyebamiji with 511,067 votes against the APC candidate’s 444,815 votes.

The result gave the incumbent governor a winning margin of 66,252 votes. Adeleke also won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured 11.

Wike, however, cautioned against using the Osun election as a direct indication of what could happen during the 2027 presidential election.

He said observers should recognise the differences between off-cycle governorship elections and presidential contests, noting that political dynamics could vary significantly.

The FCT minister also addressed the recurring flooding in Abuja, warning against politicising the problem instead of tackling its underlying causes.

He said both government authorities and residents had responsibilities in addressing flooding, particularly where drainage channels and waterways had been obstructed.

Wike rejected claims that poor residents were responsible for major encroachments on waterways and restricted areas.

According to him, some structures obstructing drainage channels were owned by wealthy Nigerians and had existed for years.

He maintained that tackling Abuja’s flooding would require identifying the actual causes, enforcing development regulations and preventing unlawful construction around waterways.