RismadarVoice Reporters
September 28, 2026
Former Osun Central Senator Olusola Adeyeye has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will retain the South-West in the 2027 presidential election, while warning that no political party should expect an easy contest.
Adeyeye, who serves as South-West Coordinator of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
Speaking on the APC’s prospects in the region, the former lawmaker said the ruling party would have to work hard and maintain internal unity to achieve its electoral objectives.
“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,” Adeyeye said.
“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 said he did not believe another political party would defeat the APC in the South-West if the ruling party remained united across the region.
His comments represent his assessment of the APC’s electoral prospects ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election. The eventual outcome will be determined by voters at the polls.
Adeyeye also argued that even a poor performance by Tinubu in the South-West would not necessarily determine the overall presidential result.
He cited the 1999 presidential election, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo lost across much of the South-West but secured enough votes elsewhere to win the presidency.
“In the worst scenario, let us say that Bola Tinubu lost the South-West; I guarantee you he will not. But if he does, have we forgotten that another Yoruba man lost the South-West and became the President?” he said.
Adeyeye also discussed the political situation in Osun State and the potential influence of former governor Rauf Aregbesola, who is now associated with the opposition African Democratic Congress.
He referred to the ADC’s performance in the August 15, 2026 Osun governorship election while questioning whether Aregbesola’s political influence would automatically translate into votes for candidates he supports.
“How did the ADC perform, even in Ilesa? How did Aregbesola perform in Osun Central, where I come from?” Adeyeye asked.
The former senator, however, acknowledged Aregbesola’s personal popularity and distinguished between the former governor contesting an election himself and campaigning for another candidate.
“If Aregbesola is the candidate, it’s a different matter,” he said.
“The truth is he’s still a magnificent person, much loved. If he were a candidate, believe me, anybody would be hard-pressed to beat him in Osun.”
Adeyeye argued that Aregbesola should not assume that his personal political support could automatically be transferred to another candidate.
“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.
Adeyeye’s comments come as political parties intensify preparations and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the South-West expected to remain an important battleground in the presidential contest.
