ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that the Federal Government influenced the outcome of the August 15 Osun State governorship election in favour of the All Progressives Congress.
Wike said Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party won the election because President Bola Tinubu allowed the exercise to proceed freely and fairly.
The FCT Minister spoke on Tuesday while inspecting flood-affected areas in Abuja, where he also cautioned against interpreting Adeleke’s victory as a pointer to the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.
According to him, the President’s decision to allow the election to take its course was demonstrated by his congratulatory message to Adeleke after the result was declared.
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“The President called him, congratulating him. What does it tell you? If Tinubu did not allow a free and fair election, would they have won? No!” Vanguard quoted Wike.
Adeleke defeated the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, with 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815 votes, winning by a margin of 66,252 votes.
The governor secured victory in 19 of Osun’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.
Wike was reacting to allegations that the Federal Government deployed its influence and resources to help the APC candidate win the election.
The minister rejected the claims, insisting that allegations of federal interference should be backed by evidence.
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“When you say force of the Federal Government, ask those who have survived it, though people like me who survived federal might,” he said.
“It’s not by saying ‘they say, they say.’ It’s not true.”
Wike, however, warned political analysts against treating the Osun election as a reflection of what could happen in the 2027 presidential contest.
He noted that off-cycle governorship elections were different from nationwide presidential elections, stressing that the political dynamics and circumstances surrounding both contests could vary considerably.