I Asked Adeleke to Present His Certificate of Return to Tinubu – Wike

 

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that he personally asked Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to present his Certificate of Return to President Bola Tinubu after winning the August 15 governorship election.

Wike made the revelation on Wednesday during a media parley in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he discussed his relationship with Adeleke, the outcome of the Osun election and political calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential election.  

According to Wike, his intervention followed a conversation he had with Adeleke while he was outside the country. The FCT minister said his major concern was whether Adeleke would continue to support Tinubu after securing another term as governor.

Wike said he contacted Adeleke while he was in Croatia and reminded him of his earlier commitment to support Tinubu.

He said he asked the Osun governor whether he would maintain his support for the President if he won the election, and Adeleke reportedly assured him that he would.

Wike said he subsequently told Adeleke to publicly reaffirm his position after the election and thank Tinubu for what he described as a free and fair electoral process.

“After that election, go and ask Adeleke. I told Adeleke, I called him when I was in Croatia. I said, ‘You told me you support Mr President?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ ‘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.  

The minister then disclosed that he also advised Adeleke to take his Certificate of Return to Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

“I also told him, ‘Adeleke, when you receive your Certificate of Return, go and present it to Mr President,’” Wike said.  

Adeleke subsequently met with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and presented the certificate. The governor also thanked the President for what he described as his role in allowing the electoral process to proceed without interference.

Adeleke, who contested the election on the platform of the Accord Party, secured 511,067 votes, defeating the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. Adeleke won 19 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas.  

Following his victory, Adeleke publicly thanked Tinubu and said the President had personally called to congratulate him.