Wike Claims He Could Have Helped Tinubu Win Osun Election

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, claimed he could have assisted President Bola Tinubu in securing victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Osun State governorship election held on August 15. Wike asserted that Tinubu did not utilize the Federal Government's influence to sway the election outcome in favor of the APC.

During an inspection of flood-prone areas in Maitama, Abuja, Wike stated, “If the President had wanted to win the Osun State election at all costs, I would have been there, and we would have won it.” The election was won by Ademola Adeleke of the Accord, who received 511,067 votes, defeating Bola Oyebamiji of the APC with 444,815 votes and Najeem Salaam of the ADC with 17,180 votes. Wike remarked that the absence of federal might in the election indicated a lack of manipulation by the ruling party.

He also suggested that Adeleke could have been part of the APC under different circumstances and predicted an easier contest for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election due to a weakened opposition.