2027: “You Won’t Tell Us Where To Vote” — Osun Man Berates Adeleke

An elderly man from Osun State has criticised Governor Ademola Adeleke over his decision to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for re-election in the 2027 presidential election.

In a video circulating on social media, the man, speaking in Yoruba, argued that Adeleke should not assume that his political support for Tinubu would automatically translate into votes from Osun residents.

“You won’t tell us where to vote,” the man was heard saying, stressing that the people of Osun State exercised their right to vote for Adeleke based on their assessment of his performance as governor.

He reportedly maintained that the same voters would independently assess Tinubu’s performance before deciding who to support in the 2027 presidential election.

The comments come shortly after Adeleke secured re-election as governor of Osun State on the platform of the Accord Party. He defeated the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, polling 511,067 votes across 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured 444,815 votes from 11 LGAs.

Adeleke subsequently called for unity among residents and urged his opponents to put the election behind them and support the development of the state. He also acknowledged President Tinubu’s congratulatory message following his victory.

The governor’s political alignment with Tinubu has nevertheless generated debate in Osun, particularly among voters who supported Adeleke in the governorship election but may have different preferences in the 2027 presidential contest.

The controversy highlights an important feature of Nigerian elections: a voter may support one candidate at the state level while choosing a different candidate in a presidential election.

With the 2027 election approaching, the incident also underscores the growing debate over whether political endorsements by governors and other influential figures can translate directly into votes.

Ultimately, the decision will rest with individual voters, who will determine their preferred presidential candidate when they cast their ballots in 2027.