In the quietness of Nigeria’s unfolding political chessboard, a silent reality is dawning on the nation’s power brokers: Osun 2026 is no longer a contest of strength, it is a contest of wisdom. And at the center of it all stands one man, Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Imole of Osun State.
Since his emergence, Governor Adeleke has become something far greater than just a governor. He has become a movement, a phenomenon, and a symbol of hope for a people long battered by political oppression and elite arrogance. In every corner of Osun, from the markets of Ilesa to the streets of Ede, from the artisans in Ife to the farmers in Ejigbo, one truth echoes without resistance, Governor Adeleke is loved. Not by force. Not by money. Not by manipulation. But by the sheer power of humility, compassion, and performance.
Federal power knows this truth. Intelligence reports confirm it. Security memos quietly admit it. Even within the ranks of the APC itself, whispers of this reality have become confessions: no aspirant in Osun APC today can defeat Governor Ademola Adeleke in a free or rigged election.
It is not for lack of trying. Names have been floated, alliances tested, strategies drafted, but none can match the magnetic hold Adeleke has on the people of Osun. He has become more than a governor, he has become the people’s governor. Attempts to rig him out will only ignite chaos. Efforts to manipulate the process will only expose the limits of power when confronted by genuine popularity.
The Playbook Has Changed: Bring Him In
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a master of political survival, knows this more than anyone. For him, Osun is not just about 2026; Osun is the gateway to the 2027 presidential elections. In the complex arithmetic of Nigerian politics, Osun holds a key not because of its numbers alone, but because of the symbolic statement it carries for the Southwest. A sitting PDP governor entrenched and unshakable in APC territory is a threat too dangerous to ignore. But this is no longer a fight to be won with federal might. It is a reality to be embraced through strategic accommodation. Thus, the play is simple: Bring Adeleke in. Don’t fight him, align with him. Let his strength become APC’s strength. Let his popularity feed into the larger vision of Southwest consolidation ahead of 2027.
Behind the scenes, emissaries are moving. Conversations are ongoing. Alliances are being quietly tested. Not because Adeleke is weak or desperate, but because the center understands that inclusion is wiser than confrontation.
*Governor Adeleke: Beyond Osun, A National Figure in the Making* Governor Adeleke’s influence today stretches beyond the borders of Osun. In Lagos, in Abuja, across the entertainment corridors of influence, within youth movements, and even among traditional rulers, he commands a rare blend of respect, admiration, and affection. He represents a new kind of leadership accessible, joyful, deeply connected to the pulse of the people, yet serious about governance.
His family’s global connections, his personal humility, and his surprising depth in statecraft have positioned him as a future stakeholder in Nigeria’s broader political future. Adeleke is no longer just a governor; he is fast becoming a reference point for what leadership could look like in the Nigeria of tomorrow~people-first, humble, and grounded.
Why President Tinubu Cannot Ignore Gov. Adeleke? President Tinubu’s genius has never been in raw force; it has always been in political foresight. He sees what others ignore. He knows when to fight and when to embrace. In Gov Adeleke, he sees a man whose hold on Osun is unbreakable. He sees a governor who, if left in the opposition, could embolden forces against APC’s Southwest supremacy.
To keep Osun safe for APC, and to keep the 2027 roadmap intact, Tinubu must act—not as a conqueror but as a unifier. Bringing Adeleke into APC neutralizes a threat and strengthens the house. It is not weakness; it is strategy. It is not surrender; it is political brilliance.
Conclusion: The Healing Hand of Politics! In the end, politics is not always about war. Sometimes, it is about wisdom. It is about understanding when a battle is not necessary and when peace serves greater purposes. Governor Ademola Adeleke is not just holding Osun; he is holding a light that many are drawn to. A light that speaks of simplicity, service, and sincerity.
President Tinubu’s interest in Adeleke is not rooted in fear, it is rooted in foresight. For Osun’s peace, for Southwest unity, for 2027 stability, bringing the Imole into the fold is the smartest move yet.
Because where love lives, rigging cannot survive. Where the people stand, federal might must bow. And where light shines, darkness must adjust.
Osun 2026 is not about who can win, everyone knows who already has. It is about how best to embrace that reality for the greater political good.
And President Tinubu, more than anyone, knows how to turn such reality into advantage.
Comrade Alalade Bukola Felix (Erudite Machiavelli) writes from Ilesa West, Osun State. 15th June, 2025.