The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said he asked Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to issue a statement thanking President Bola Tinubu after his victory in the August 15 governorship election.

Wike disclosed this during a media parley he hosted on Wednesday and aired on Channels Television.

He made the comments while explaining his relationship with Adeleke and his position during the Osun governorship election.

The minister said his concern was whether Adeleke, who had told him that he supported Tinubu, would maintain that position if he won the election.

He said he called Adeleke while he was in Croatia and asked whether he would continue to support the President if he won.

“My concern: if Adeleke wins, will he still support Mr. President? And I called him, because that’s my own interest. I called him, I said ‘Listen, you have told me you support Mr. President. Are you going to keep to it?’ He said he was going to keep to it. I said, ‘Okay.’

“I wished him good luck. I don’t need to go to Osun.”

Wike said he later instructed Adeleke to publicly reaffirm his support for Tinubu and thank the President for what he described as a free and fair election.

“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.’”

He added that he also asked Adeleke to present his Certificate of Return to Tinubu after receiving it.

“I don’t need to go and tell anybody. I don’t need to go and tell Mr. President. I don’t need to. He issued a statement. I also told him, ‘Adeleke, when you receive your Certificate of Return, go and present it to Mr. President.’”

L-R: Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. CREDIT: Lere Olayinka | X

Wike said his actions were part of a strategy to counter the opposition coalition he referred to as the “coalition” seeking political influence ahead of the 2027 elections.

“I don’t need to call Mr. President ‘I want to…’ No, I don’t do that. It is my job. What was that strategy? To knock off these people you call coalition coming to the… to come and curry favor, when Adeleke issued that statement, ADC withdrew.”

Adeleke, who contested the Osun governorship election on the platform of the Accord Party, defeated the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, according to the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission.