President Bola Tinubu has cautioned Ademola Adeleke against treating his Osun victory as a political conquest. The president urged the governor to reconcile with opponents during a meeting in Abuja.
ABUJA, NIGERIA — President Bola Tinubu has told Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke that he “did not conquer anybody” by winning the August 15 governorship election, urging him to avoid stigmatising his opponents and use his renewed mandate to promote unity across the state. Tinubu spoke when Adeleke visited him at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
Tinubu congratulated Adeleke on his victory but used the meeting to remind the governor that elections should not create permanent enemies among citizens. The president said Adeleke had received the support of Osun voters and should now return to governance with a responsibility to serve both those who supported him and those who voted against him.
“You did not conquer anybody. You won an election. That is the essence of democracy.”
Tinubu also urged Adeleke not to turn any political opponent into a victim because of the election outcome. According to the president, the governor’s conduct after securing another term would matter more than the celebrations surrounding the victory, particularly because Osun residents now expect him to govern the entire state.
The president further advised Adeleke to resist attempts to stigmatise members of the opposition and instead build what he described as a network of unity. Tinubu said people who participated in the election remained part of the democratic process and deserved respect, regardless of which candidate they supported.
Tinubu said the election result reflected the wishes of Osun voters and described Adeleke’s victory as an opportunity rather than a reason to humiliate political rivals. He encouraged the governor to expand his political reach and ensure that his second term benefits the wider population, including communities that did not vote for him.
The president’s comments came after a closely watched governorship election in Osun State. According to figures announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Adeleke secured 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. The result gave Adeleke a winning margin of 66,252 votes.
Adeleke’s victory marked his return for another four-year term as Osun governor, following his first successful run in 2022. The 2026 election featured 15 political parties, while Adeleke contested on the platform of the Accord Party after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party in December.
The result also carried wider political significance because the Osun election became a test of the strength of the ruling APC and opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general election. The outcome gave Adeleke a fresh mandate while also producing a moment of political cooperation between the governor and Tinubu despite their different party positions in the state contest.
Tinubu had earlier congratulated Adeleke after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the result. In a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the president said the outcome reflected the will of Osun voters and described the election as evidence that democracy could continue to flourish in Nigeria. He also praised other contestants for participating in the process.
The president’s latest remarks therefore came against the backdrop of a political relationship that has become more complex. Although Tinubu belongs to the APC and Adeleke contested the governorship election on the Accord Party platform, the two politicians have maintained a working relationship, with Adeleke publicly acknowledging the president’s role in the democratic process after his victory.
For Osun residents, Tinubu’s message carries significance beyond political courtesy. The state has experienced sharp political competition, particularly between the PDP, APC and other emerging platforms. The president’s call for reconciliation comes as Adeleke begins preparing for another term and faces expectations to deliver on governance, infrastructure, economic development and other issues affecting residents.
The meeting also followed reports of political tension surrounding the election period. Security agencies recorded incidents of violence before and after the poll, while authorities continued to address allegations involving political actors and supporters. That background makes the president’s appeal for restraint and reconciliation particularly relevant as Osun moves away from the election campaign and back towards governance.
Newstridez reviewed the election figures and reports surrounding Adeleke’s meeting with Tinubu. The available records show that Adeleke secured a clear numerical victory over Oyebamiji, while Tinubu’s comments focused on what the governor should do with that mandate rather than questioning the election result. The president specifically encouraged him to treat the victory as a responsibility to the people.
Tinubu also used his own political journey to make the point that political office should be seen as an opportunity entrusted to individuals rather than proof of personal superiority. He told Adeleke that God and the people had placed him in office and that he should use the position to build a lasting legacy.
The governor’s next task will now be to translate the renewed mandate into governance while managing relationships with political opponents and supporters. With the election concluded, attention is expected to shift towards the transition into the new term, implementation of government programmes and the political choices that could shape Osun ahead of the 2027 national elections.
The Tinubu Adeleke Osun meeting has consequently produced a message that reaches beyond the two politicians. Tinubu has urged Adeleke to see his victory as a democratic mandate rather than a defeat of enemies, while Adeleke now faces the test of using that mandate to unite a politically divided state. For Osun, the next chapter will be measured less by the size of the victory and more by what the governor does with it.
