2027: Ex-Osun Senator Speaks on Aregbesola Reconciling With Tinubu

Former Osun Central Senator, Olusola Adeyeye, has speak on a possible reconciliation between President Bola Tinubu and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

Adeyeye made the comment while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he was asked whether there was anyone capable of bringing Tinubu and Aregbesola together after years of political differences.

The former senator said he could not identify a person who could successfully mediate between the two men, stressing that forgiveness would ultimately have to come from both sides.

“I don’t know; only God knows. When things get to be like this, only the two of them can forgive each other,” he said.

Adeyeye, who currently serves as the South-West Coordinator of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council, said he would welcome a reunion between Tinubu and Aregbesola.

According to him, bringing the two former political allies together would be important for the APC, particularly as the party prepares for the 2027 presidential election.

“My wish would be for my party and for the president, because I want the president to win, and if he must, we must bring everybody together,” he said.

Tinubu and Aregbesola were once prominent political allies within the political structure that produced the APC.

Aregbesola served as governor of Osun State from 2010 to 2018 and was later appointed Minister of Interior by Tinubu’s administration.

However, their political relationship became strained over time.

Aregbesola has since moved into the African Democratic Congress, where he serves as national secretary and has become part of the opposition ahead of the 2027 election.

Adeyeye acknowledged that Aregbesola’s current political affiliation could make any immediate reconciliation more complicated.

He said it could be difficult for the former governor to abandon the ADC without facing questions from his supporters and political associates.

“It won’t look good to his admirers, especially those who follow him to that party,” he said.

The former senator nevertheless maintained that bringing political actors together remained important to the APC’s preparations for 2027.

Adeyeye also spoke about the APC’s prospects in the South-West, insisting that the party would work hard to maintain its support in the region.

He rejected the suggestion that the 2027 contest would be straightforward for any political party.

“I make bold: anyone from any party who thinks the next election will be easy for it is suffering self-delusion. We in the APC, we work very hard to win, and I want to assure you that we will win,” he said.

He added:

“I also want to assure you. We will win big. I care that we win the South-West, and we’re going to shock everybody.”

Adeyeye’s comments come after the August 15, 2026 Osun governorship election, which produced another major political contest involving the APC and the ADC.

The African Democratic Congress fielded former Osun House of Assembly Speaker Najeem Salaam as its candidate, while the APC contested the election with Bola Oyebamiji.

Ademola Adeleke

The election was won by Governor Ademola Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party.

Adeleke polled 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji of the APC secured 444,815 votes. Salaam of the ADC finished third with 17,180 votes.

The result also produced a notable outcome at Aregbesola’s polling unit in Ilesa East Local Government Area.

At the unit where the former governor voted, the APC candidate secured 256 votes. The Accord candidate received 43 votes, while the ADC recorded 13 votes.

Adeyeye referred to the performance of the ADC in the election while discussing whether Aregbesola’s political influence posed a serious challenge to the APC in Osun.

He questioned how the party performed in areas associated with the former governor and specifically pointed to Ilesa and Osun Central.

“How did the ADC perform, even in Ilesa? How did Aregbesola perform in Osun Central, where I come from?” he asked.

The former senator, however, did not dismiss Aregbesola’s personal political influence in Osun.

Instead, he drew a distinction between the former governor contesting an election himself and supporting another politician.

Adeyeye acknowledged that Aregbesola remains popular among sections of the electorate in the state and could present a difficult contest if he personally appeared on the ballot.

“If Aregbesola is the candidate, it’s a different matter,” he said.

He continued:

“The truth is he’s still a magnificent person, much loved. If he were a candidate, believe you me, anybody would be hard-pressed to beat him in Osun,” Adeyeye added.

Despite this recognition, Adeyeye argued that Aregbesola’s personal popularity should not automatically be transferred to another candidate or political party.

“Where he’s not the candidate, even he must not deceive himself that he can automatically take the affection for him to another person,” he said.

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