Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has credited President Bola Tinubu for enabling a free and fair electoral process that led to the recent victory of Ademola Adeleke in the Osun State governorship election. Wike made this assertion during an inspection tour of flood-affected areas in the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday.

In his remarks regarding the August 15 election, Wike refuted allegations that the Federal Government had manipulated the results, emphasizing that Tinubu allowed the democratic process to unfold without interference. He stated, "The President called him… congratulating him (Adeleke). What does it tell you? If Tinubu did not allow a free and fair election, would they have won? No!"

Adeleke, who represents the Accord Party, secured a total of 511,067 votes, defeating Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who garnered 444,815 votes. This victory marked a significant margin of 66,252 votes, with Adeleke winning in 19 out of the 30 local government areas in Osun State.

Wike further challenged the notion that federal influence played a role in the election outcomes, drawing from his personal experiences in previous electoral contests. He remarked, "When you say force of the federal government… ask those who have survived it, though—people like me who survived federal might. It’s not by saying ‘they say, they say.’ It’s not true."

The minister urged political analysts to differentiate between state governorship elections and presidential elections, cautioning that the results of an off-season governorship poll should not be seen as a predictor for presidential outcomes.

In addition to his comments on the election, Wike addressed the ongoing issue of flooding in parts of the Federal Capital Territory. He criticized those who politicize the flooding crisis, suggesting that it is essential to examine the root causes rather than using the situation to attack the current administration. Wike noted that both government officials and citizens have roles to play in mitigating flooding.

He also dismissed claims that poor residents were primarily responsible for structural encroachments on waterways, asserting that many of the obstructive structures were built by affluent individuals and had existed long before the current administration took office.