I would have helped Tinubu win Osun – Wike

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August 19, 2026 5:25 am

FILE: FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said he could have helped President Bola Tinubu secure victory for the All Progressives Congress in the August 15 governorship election in Osun State if the President had wanted to win the poll “at all costs.”
Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, said Tinubu deliberately allowed the election to take place without deploying the influence of the Federal Government to sway the outcome in favour of the APC.
The FCT minister spoke on Tuesday while inspecting flood-prone areas in Maitama, Abuja.
He said he would have supported the President if he had decided to use his political influence to ensure an APC victory.
“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, and there’s nothing the governor can do,” Wike said.Make PUNCH part of your everyday experience.Add us to your Preferred Sources
Governor Ademola Adeleke, who contested the election on the platform of the Accord, was declared the winner after securing victory in 19 of the 30 local government areas in the state.
Adeleke of the Accord won the election with 511,067 votes, defeating his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the APC, who secured 444,815 votes and Najeem Salaam of the ADC, who polled 17,180 votes.
Wike, speaking on the outcome of the election, said it demonstrated that the Federal Government did not deploy its influence to manipulate the election in favour of the ruling party. 2027: APC campaign council seeks Olubadan, Alaafin’s blessings Tinubu must defend record before seeking re-election – Atiku 2027: APC presidential campaign visits Olubadan, Alaafin
“There was no federal might used in Osun. When you see the force and might of the Federal Government, you will know,” he said.
The minister also suggested that Adeleke could have been a member of the APC if certain political circumstances had turned out differently.
“Ordinarily, Adeleke would have been with the APC if things had worked out well,” he said.
Wike, a former Rivers State governor who has continued to support Tinubu despite his membership of the opposition PDP, also predicted that the President would face a less difficult contest in the 2027 presidential election.
“The 2027 elections will be the easier one for the President compared to 2023,” he said.
He attributed his prediction to what he described as the weakened state of the opposition parties.

“This time around, the opposition has been crippled, homeless, no feather,” Wike added.
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Deborah Musa
Deborah Musa is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with five years of experience in journalism, including three years covering the judiciary. She focuses on producing accurate, well-researched reports that provide clarity on legal and justice-related issues. Deborah’s work reflects hands-on newsroom experience and editorial diligence.

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