By Our Correspondent | National News
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, is now part of a broader political coalition supporting President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
Wike disclosed this on Friday in Abuja while inspecting ongoing rehabilitation work at the IBB International Golf and Country Club.
According to him, Adeleke’s recent meeting with Tinubu was part of efforts to build what he described as a larger “Rainbow Coalition” ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Wike said Adeleke, although elected on the Accord Party platform, remained a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and had committed to supporting Tinubu.
He explained that Adeleke contested the Osun governorship election on the Accord platform because of internal crises within the PDP that affected his chances of securing the party’s ticket.
Wike said, “Adeleke is fully supporting Mr President. And so, we had to meet last night and encourage ourselves to continue. And the next few weeks, watch what is going to happen. You will see a larger Rainbow Coalition in this country.”
The FCT minister also dismissed the strength of opposition parties ahead of the 2027 election, arguing that the crisis within the PDP had weakened the emergence of a formidable opposition bloc.
He said the political realignments would put opposition figures, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, under pressure.
Wike further said the President had directed that the rehabilitation of the IBB International Golf and Country Club be completed, with the facility expected to reopen to the public in December.
Adeleke Won’t Join APC — Campaign Spokesman
However, the spokesperson for the Ademola Adeleke Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has rejected speculation that the Osun governor is planning to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Olajengbesi said Adeleke’s meeting with Tinubu was purely a courtesy visit and should not be interpreted as an indication that he intended to change political affiliation.
He said the visit was consistent with the principles of Nigeria’s federal system and was meant to demonstrate respect for the office of the President.
According to him, Adeleke also used the opportunity to commend Tinubu for allowing democratic institutions to function during the Osun governorship election.
Olajengbesi said the governor urged the President to support measures that would strengthen democratic institutions and prevent their manipulation by political actors.
He added that Adeleke sought reconciliation and healing in Osun following the tensions surrounding the election.
“The essence of that visit has nothing to do with Governor Ademola Adeleke joining APC. It’s an impossibility. Governor Ademola Adeleke is not joining APC,” Olajengbesi said.
He, however, stressed that Adeleke would cooperate with the Federal Government in the interest of Osun State and Nigeria.
“But I can assure you that Governor Ademola Adeleke will work with the Federal Government to ensure that there’s progress in Nigeria and, of course, in Osun State,” he added.
The campaign spokesman also rejected claims that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) collaborated with Adeleke’s campaign during the election.
He maintained that Adeleke won through the support of Osun voters and not because of backing from another political party.
Lawyers Demand Probe Into Alleged Election Violence
Meanwhile, the Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers and Advocates (COPA) has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police Force seven days to investigate alleged inflammatory statements, threats and killings linked to the Osun governorship election.
National Coordinator of COPA, Ajibola Bello, said in Abuja that the conclusion of the election should not prevent authorities from investigating alleged criminal offences committed before or during the poll.
He said the coalition had reviewed videos allegedly showing political actors making threats, discouraging citizens from voting and, in one instance, allegedly calling for the killing of members of an opposition party.
Bello said some of the alleged statements were followed by violence in parts of the state, with several people reportedly killed.
He stressed, however, that COPA was not pronouncing anyone guilty, but was demanding that the allegations be investigated and prosecuted where sufficient evidence was established.
The coalition also raised concerns over an alleged video involving a serving senator who was purportedly calling on supporters to kill members of the Accord Party.
Bello said the allegation was particularly serious because the individual involved is a serving member of the National Assembly.
COPA further cited an alleged video involving Francis Eniade, who was purportedly warning non-APC members against coming out to vote and mentioning the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun.
Bello urged INEC and the police to authenticate the videos, identify those involved, interview witnesses and establish the circumstances surrounding the reported violence.
He also called on INEC to exercise its prosecutorial powers under Section 148 of the Electoral Act 2026 where sufficient evidence of electoral offences exists.
“There can therefore be no institutional buck-passing,” Bello said.
COPA demanded impartial investigations and prosecution of suspects where the evidence meets the required legal threshold, insisting that political affiliation must not shield anyone from accountability.
The developments have heightened attention on the political aftermath of the Osun governorship election, with Adeleke’s camp insisting that the governor will not defect to the APC while remaining open to cooperation with the Tinubu administration.
