Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has praised President Bola Tinubu over his handling of the 2026 Osun governorship election.
Fayose said Tinubu did not deploy the powers of the Federal Government to influence the outcome of the poll. He said the President showed that a credible election was possible in Nigeria.
Fayose spoke during an interview on TVC News on Tuesday. His comments came after Governor Ademola Adeleke defeated the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in the August 15 election.
Adeleke polled 511,067 votes to retain the governorship. Oyebamiji scored 444,815 votes, while ADC candidate Najeem Salaam received 17,180 votes.
Adeleke won in 19 local government areas. Oyebamiji secured victory in the remaining 11 LGAs.
Fayose contrasted the Osun election with his experience during the 2018 Ekiti governorship poll. He said the Federal Government used its powers against him during that election.
The former governor said his security details were withdrawn days before the 2018 election. He also alleged that telephone signals at the Ekiti Government House were blocked.
Fayose claimed that Lawal Daura, the former Director-General of the Department of State Services, coordinated the operation.
“Ekiti was taken from me in 2018 by all means possible,” Fayose said.
He recalled that mobile policemen allegedly attacked him during the 2018 election period. Images of Fayose wearing a cervical brace later circulated widely.
Fayose said similar actions did not happen during the recent Osun election. He credited Tinubu for what he described as a different approach to election management.
“If not for Tinubu, who has been very magnanimous in his actions,” Fayose said.
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The former governor also noted that Tinubu appointed the heads of key security and electoral institutions. These include the Independent National Electoral Commission chairman, Inspector-General of Police and Chief of Army Staff.
Fayose said the appointments gave Tinubu significant influence over the electoral process. However, he argued that the President chose not to use that influence to manipulate the Osun election.
Fayose also recalled that he was governor of Ekiti during the 2018 election. Although he was not a candidate, he supported his deputy, Kolapo Olushola, who contested for the Peoples Democratic Party.
Kayode Fayemi of the APC won the election with 197,459 votes. Olushola finished second with 178,121 votes.
Fayose’s comments come amid debate over the role of federal power in Nigeria’s elections. His comparison between the 2018 Ekiti poll and the 2026 Osun election has renewed discussion about electoral independence and political influence.
