Oyetola and Adeleke: Is a Political Alliance Finally on the Horizon?

In October 2026, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun was appointed as the state coordinator for President Bola Tinubu's 2027 campaign, replacing his rival Gboyega Oyetola, who is now the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy. This news has sparked speculation about a potential political alliance, despite their long-standing rivalry. Oyetola, who is from the APC, defeated Adeleke, who was then from the PDP, in a controversial 2018 rerun by a narrow margin of 255,505 votes to 255,023.

The Supreme Court upheld the decision. In the 2022 rerun, Adeleke emerged victorious over APC's Bola Oyebamiji, with 403,371 votes against Oyebamiji's 375,027. The Supreme Court again confirmed Adeleke's win. In August 2026, Adeleke secured a second term with 511,067 votes, outpacing Oyebamiji, who was backed by Oyetola. The two had a tense relationship in 2026, with Adeleke urging Oyetola to behave or face exposure of his past indiscretions.

Their disagreements extended to control of local councils after an Appeal Court ruling. However, the atmosphere cooled down when Adeleke expressed his willingness to cooperate with Oyetola and Oyebamiji, provided it benefits Tinubu. Tinubu reportedly intervened in the council dispute by establishing a committee to foster peace between Adeleke and the APC.

It remains unclear whether this arrangement will evolve into a full-fledged political alliance, as no agreement has been reached between the two men. The success of this collaboration will be put to the test during the council dispute, where Tinubu's committee is expected to mediate a resolution.