The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said Governor Ademola Adeleke won the recent Osun State governorship election because President Bola Tinubu allowed the poll to remain free and fair.
Wike stated this on Tuesday while speaking during an inspection tour of flood-affected areas in the Federal Capital Territory. Reacting to the August 15 governorship election, the minister dismissed claims that the Federal Government influenced the outcome. He said Tinubu allowed the democratic process to take its course. According to The Nation, Wike said the election showed that the Federal Government did not use its influence to undermine the opposition.
He said, “The President called him… congratulating him (Adeleke). What does it tell you? If Tinubu did not allow a free and fair election, would they have won? No!”
The minister also rejected claims that federal might influenced the election, drawing from his experience in previous electoral contests.
He said, “When you say force of the federal government… ask those who have survived it, though—people like me who survived federal might. It’s not by saying ‘they say, they say.’ It’s not true.”
Wike urged political observers to distinguish between state governorship elections and presidential elections. He argued that the outcome of an off-season poll should not automatically be viewed as an indication of what could happen in a presidential contest.
Adeleke defeats Oyebamiji
Wike’s comments came days after Adeleke defeated the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in the Osun governorship election. Adeleke polled 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji secured 444,815 votes. The result gave the incumbent governor a margin of 66,252 votes.
Adeleke won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured 11. The result prompted reactions from both camps. Oyebamiji said he respected the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission and backed his party’s review of the election outcome.
Wike speaks on FCT flooding
The minister also addressed the recurring flooding in parts of the FCT. He said the issue should not be politicised without examining its underlying causes. According to Wike, some critics had used the recent flooding to attack the administration instead of acknowledging its achievements in other areas.
He added that government officials and residents also had roles to play in preventing flooding. The minister further rejected suggestions that poor residents were responsible for major encroachments on waterways and other restricted areas. According to Wike, many of the structures obstructing drainage channels were built by wealthy Nigerians and had existed for years before the current administration.
Read also: Tinubu congratulates Adeleke, says Osun victory reflects people’s will
