BY: Mustapha Lawal
Claim:
An X user claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke as Director-General of his South-West Campaign Council for the 2027 presidential election.
Verdict:
FALSE! Adeleke’s name does not appear in the published APC Presidential Campaign Council list.
Full Text:
A claim that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke as Director-General of his South-West campaign council ahead of the 2027 presidential election is circulating on social media.
The claim surfaced shortly after Adeleke, who was re-elected governor of Osun State on the Accord Party platform on August 15, publicly reaffirmed his support for Tinubu’s bid for a second term in 2027.
On August 17, an X user, @WOkene posted that “President Tinubu appoints Governor Adeleke as Director-General of his South-West Campaign Council for the 2027 presidential election.”
The post attracted more than 50,000 views and generated reactions from users questioning whether the reported appointment was genuine.
The claim comes amid increased political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections. Although Adeleke belongs to the Accord Party and Tinubu is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the two politicians have publicly maintained a working relationship.
Before the Osun election, Adeleke endorsed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election and subsequently reaffirmed his support after securing re-election. In an interview with Channels Television, Adeleke said he would support Tinubu “big time” and was willing to work with APC members in support of the President.
This political alignment, however, does not establish that Adeleke was appointed to the APC’s presidential campaign council.
Verification:
FactCheckAfrica reviewed the official composition of the APC Presidential Campaign Council announced on August 22, 2026, by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy and Coordinating Director for Media and Strategic Communication of the campaign council.
The list names President Tinubu as chairman, Vice President Kashim Shettima as Vice Chairman I and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda as Vice Chairman II. Former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, was appointed Director-General, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was named Secretary.
The list also contains the council’s zonal and election-planning structure. Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Bamidele Opeyemi were assigned as Deputy Director-Generals for the South, while Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Senator Barau Jibrin were assigned responsibilities for the North. James Faleke was appointed Deputy Director-General for Election Planning, Coordination and Monitoring.
For the South-West specifically, Senator Olushola Adeyeye was named the zonal director for Election Planning, Coordination and Mobilisation. The other zonal directors are Dr Ngozi Olejeme for the South-South, Senator Uche Ekwunife for the South-East, Muntaqha Rabe for the North-West, Ahmed Muhammed Ketso for the North-Central and Senator Sani Danladi for the North-East.
Adeleke’s name does not appear in the published APC Presidential Campaign Council list.
The claim is also inaccurate in its description of the alleged position. The published campaign structure does not contain a position titled “Director-General of the South-West Campaign Council.” The Director-General position is a national position and is held by Senator Abdulaziz Yari, while the South-West has a designated zonal director under the election-planning structure.
What about Adeleke’s support for Tinubu?
The fact that Adeleke was not appointed to the APC campaign council does not mean he has not expressed support for Tinubu.
Following his re-election, Adeleke said he would support Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid and participate in the President’s campaign in whatever capacity he was asked to. He explained that his support was influenced by Tinubu’s status as a Yoruba president from the South-West and his desire for the President to continue projects and reforms in the region.
There have also been reports of broader political realignment involving Adeleke. FCT Minister Nyesom Wike said the Osun governor was part of an emerging “National Rainbow Coalition” supporting Tinubu’s re-election.
However, Adeleke’s participation in, or support for, a broader political coalition is different from being formally appointed to the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
His campaign team has also denied that his political relationship with Tinubu was based on a pre-arranged agreement.
Conclusion:
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not appoint Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke as Director-General of his South-West Campaign Council.
FactCheckAfrica’s review of the APC’s published 2027 Presidential Campaign Council shows that Senator Abdulaziz Yari is the Director-General of the national campaign council, while Senator Olushola Adeyeye is the designated South-West zonal director for Election Planning, Coordination and Mobilisation. Adeleke’s name does not appear on the published council list.
While Adeleke has publicly endorsed Tinubu’s re-election and said he is willing to support the President’s campaign, there is no evidence that he has been formally appointed to the APC campaign council in the capacity claimed.
