Ibukun Fadipe, a prominent chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, has declared that Governor Ademola Adeleke does not need the backing of the Federal Government to secure re-election in 2026.
According to Fadipe, Adeleke’s impressive performance in office has earned him strong grassroots support across the state.
Speaking during a radio programme monitored by The Guardian, Fadipe, who also serves as Chairman of the State Universal Education Board, made startling claims about President Bola Tinubu’s recent approach to Governor Adeleke.
“President Bola Tinubu begged before the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, endorsed his 2027 re-election bid,” Fadipe revealed.
He added that Adeleke’s decision to support the President was made reluctantly after Tinubu emphasized several development demands for Osun, including refunds for federal road projects handled by the state government and fresh federal interventions.
“The governor accepted to support the President after he stressed the need for Tinubu to refund to Osun State the amount his administration had spent on constructing federal roads in the state, build other deplorable federal roads in the state and embark on other projects that will improve the status of Osun State,” Fadipe explained.
Fadipe also clarified that Adeleke did not require the Federal Government’s assistance to secure victory in the 2026 polls.
“He doesn’t need any support from the Federal Government before winning the 2026 governorship election in the state because he has performed exceedingly,” he said.
He noted that Adeleke’s support for Tinubu faced internal opposition within the PDP, but the governor eventually agreed after persistent efforts by the President’s emissaries.
“The pleadings and entreaties by some emissaries the President sent to the governor overwhelmed Adeleke into accepting Tinubu’s offer,” Fadipe stated.
According to Fadipe, an independent fact-finding mission sent by Tinubu to Osun confirmed the PDP’s dominance in the state, which influenced the decision to seek Adeleke’s political alignment.
“President Tinubu sent an independent team to Osun to find out which political party is popular before discovering that the PDP is the party to beat and so needed Adeleke’s backing,” he disclosed.
Fadipe further alleged that former governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, has not adequately represented Osun at the federal level, prompting Adeleke to consider a political deal with Tinubu for the state’s benefit.
“The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, had failed to represent the state very well at the federal level,” Fadipe alleged.
He stressed that Adeleke’s cooperation with Tinubu should not be mistaken for an intention to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Adeleke’s intention was not to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state,” Fadipe clarified, “he considered Tinubu’s endorsement in the interest of the development of Osun.”
Meanwhile, ahead of the APC’s governorship primaries scheduled for November 2025, the party’s elders caucus convened a closed-door meeting with aspirants on Monday.
The meeting, held at the Ilobu residence of caucus chairman Sola Akinwumi, focused on party unity and preparations for the primaries.
