Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has responded to those criticizing Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke. They are upset that Adeleke thanked President Bola Tinubu after his reelection.
After INEC announced his victory in Saturday’s governorship election, Adeleke expressed gratitude to Tinubu for allowing a fair election. He also reaffirmed his earlier support for Tinubu’s reelection.
In a post on his verified X account, Sani said the opposition is wrong to expect the governor to always oppose the president. He believes this view ignores the reality of elections in Nigeria.
Sani explained that winning elections has two important parts. First, a candidate must get votes at the polling units. Second, they must protect those votes during the collation process.
He noted that many politicians have lost elections not because they were defeated at the polls, but due to issues during the collation phase.
“Most members of the opposition are not happy with Governor Adeleke for ‘thanking’ President Tinubu for his electoral victory.
“They want the Governor to be confrontational. If the President had not helped secure the election and prevent any tampering, the Governor wouldn’t have been so appreciative.
“Electoral victory is a product of two components: winning the votes and securing the collation and victory of the vote. There are many politicians today who lost elections because of the latter,” Shehu Sani stated.
Also commenting on X, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said that Adeleke’s support for Tinubu’s reelection was based on an agreement.
“Thank you, Governor Ademola Adeleke, for the public and unequivocal endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT for the 2027 Presidential Election. You are a man of integrity and honour. ‘Agreement is agreement,’” Mr Keyamo wrote.
In response to Keyamo’s statement, Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, said there is no agreement between the president and the governor.
He made it clear that Adeleke’s support for the president is based on his performance.
“Do not undermine the resilience of Osun people. There is no agreement. Our support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, @officialABAT, is based on his performance and reforms that have strengthened states economically.
“Osun people voted for @AAdeleke_01. President Tinubu simply ensured democratic rules were respected,” Mr Olajengbesi stated on X.
In Nigerian politics, it is unusual for an opposition governor to praise an incumbent president openly. This can create tension within the opposition.
Sani’s comments highlight a long-standing problem in Nigerian elections, such as vote tampering or interference during the transport and collation of ballot papers.
By thanking President Tinubu, Adeleke shows that the federal government, security agencies, and election authorities allowed the election process to occur fairly without federal pressure.
Hardline members of the opposition often want governors from rival parties to keep a critical distance from the federal government.
Adeleke’s friendly approach is seen by critics as a compromise. Supporters, however, view it as smart politics that helps maintain peace between the state and federal governments while protecting democracy.
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