Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has come under heavy public backlash after reaffirming his endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election right after winning his own re-election.
Adeleke, who secured re-election in Saturday’s tightly contested governorship poll, made the endorsement during a Channels TV interview on Sunday.
During his appearance, the governor said his backing of the President was based on their shared Yoruba heritage.
The comment sparked reactions from some of his supporters, who took to social media to express their disappointment.
Critics and disappointed supporters viewed the move as a betrayal of the voters and party faithful who made immense sacrifices to defend his governorship mandate against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
Some angry supporters lambasted Adeleke’s public statement that he backed Tinubu because they share a Yoruba heritage, calling the rationale embarrassing and a setback for merit-based democratic choices.
They urged Adeleke to savour his victory and stop trying to dictate the choices of Osun voters for 2027, reminding him that even the “federal might” of the APC could not stop the will of the Osun electorate.
Here are some of the reactions from X:
Dr Kenon @drkenon2: “I thought this man had sense. What is this for God’s sake? Governor Ademola said he’s supporting Tinubu because he’s a Yoruba man.
“That’s very embarrassing & I am so disappointed. He just disgraced all the people that stood for him during the election”.
Lola Okunrin @lollypeezle: “Osun People stood against Tinubu and his APC team. 28 died and this is how you pay them back. Fuck you Adeleke”.
Abu Amir @SadiqMaunde: “Adeleke’s “support isn’t based on competence, good governance, or the nation’s development, but based on tribalism.
“And this is the same man you people were standing with?”
Ayemojubar @ayemojubar: “A Yoruba man who froze the state’s account without your consent and nearly upturned your administration simply because you refused to join his party?
“Well, you can go ahead and support Tinubu, but the people of Osun are clearly not with you on this”.
FarmerCrypt @fermacrypt: “Davido’s uncle, Ademola Adeleke sat in an interview and claimed he would support Tinubu. We all heard it. But we also know Osun. We know the hardship. We know what this administration has done to the ordinary people in that state and across the country.
“Words in an interview are one thing. The reality on the ground is another. When the same Tinubu government whose first lady is advising people to fry akara, roast corn and sell groundnuts under the sun is the one being endorsed, only the most disconnected would still line up to vote them back in.
“Osun is watching. We can’t say the same for Ekiti. The rest of Nigeria is watching. And the people who still have their senses left are not buying the performance.”
The backlash underscores growing discontent among Adeleke’s base, with many insisting that Osun voters remain opposed to Tinubu’s leadership despite the governor’s endorsement.
