Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has inaugurated the state’s Presidential Campaign Council for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, bringing together prominent chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party.
The inauguration, held in Osogbo, followed Adeleke’s appointment as the Osun State Coordinator for Tinubu’s re-election campaign ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
The event attracted prominent political figures, including former Osun State Governor and former APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru; former Deputy Governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore; and former Deputy Senate Leader, Professor Sola Adeyeye.
Other attendees included former Deputy Governor Sooko Adewoyin, former federal lawmaker Jide Omoworare, former Deputy Governor Titi Laoye-Ponle, Osun APC chieftain Olu Aina, Osun Accord Chairman Victor Akande, Osun PDP Chairman Sunday Bisi, Wale Oladipo and PDP chieftain Adelakun Adeoye.
However, former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, the APC’s 2026 governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and several party leaders believed to be aligned with Oyetola were absent from the inauguration.
Their absence came hours after the Osun APC chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, said the party had not been formally informed about the event and learnt of it through a social media announcement by the governor’s spokesperson. Lawal, however, stated that the party was not opposed to Adeleke coordinating Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
Speaking at the inauguration, Adeleke described the gathering as a rainbow coalition of political leaders and structures assembled to mobilise support for the president.
“It is with a high sense of responsibility that I stand here today to inaugurate the Osun State Presidential Campaign Council for the re-election of our dear father and leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the governor said.
He added that the coalition would work towards exceeding the 1.5 million votes previously promised to Tinubu, expressing confidence in the capacity of the political leaders to deliver substantial electoral support from Osun.
Adeleke, however, clarified that the alliance was restricted to the presidential election and would not affect the participating parties’ choices in legislative contests.
“Our coalition is solely about Mr President, a man who means so much to Osun State and Nigeria. Our alliance is about the presidential election on which we have all agreed to support the re-election of President Tinubu,” he said.
He explained that members of the coalition remained free to support candidates of their respective parties in senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly elections.
The governor also disclosed that discussions between the Federal Government and the Osun State Government over the lingering local government crisis had reached an advanced stage, expressing hope for an early resolution.
Former APC National Chairman, Akande, commended Adeleke for bringing political leaders together, describing the initiative as an opportunity to advance the interests of the Yoruba people. He urged progressive-minded politicians to work collectively towards Tinubu’s re-election.
Similarly, Omisore called on politicians across party lines, including members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Accord, to support the president’s second-term ambition.
“We need everybody, irrespective of political affiliation, including ADC, Accord and others, to vote for President Bola Tinubu. We are not talking about governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly elections, but the re-election of our leader,” Omisore said.
He urged the coalition to work towards delivering two million votes for Tinubu in Osun, adding that political differences should not prevent members from supporting the president.
In his remarks, Basiru urged political leaders in the state to put aside personal ambitions and interests to ensure the success of Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
“For us in Osun State, we must understand that, irrespective of our feelings, ambitions or political interests, we must abide by the mission of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and support Governor Ademola Adeleke to ensure the success of the campaign,” Basiru said.
The APC national secretary also defended the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, citing initiatives in student financing, road infrastructure and economic management, while urging Osun political leaders to unite behind the president ahead of the 2027 election.
