A former senator representing Osun Central, Olusola Adeyeye, has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will retain the support of the South-West in the 2027 presidential election.
Adeyeye, who serves as the South-West Coordinator of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, made the assertion during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
The former lawmaker said the APC would work to maintain its political strength across the region, arguing that unity among party members would be important to its campaign ahead of the election.
Adeyeye cautioned political parties against assuming that the 2027 election would be easy, saying the APC was working to secure victory. He specifically said he expected the party to perform strongly in the South-West.
“I make bold: anyone from any party who thinks the next election will be easy for it is suffering self-delusion,” Adeyeye said, adding that the APC would work hard to win.
He further said he did not believe another political party could defeat the APC in the South-West if the ruling party remained united across the region.
However, while expressing confidence in Tinubu’s support base, Adeyeye acknowledged that even a loss in the South-West would not necessarily determine the overall outcome of a presidential election. He cited the experience of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he said had previously lost support in parts of the South-West but nevertheless went on to win the presidency.
Adeyeye also expressed confidence in the APC’s prospects in Osun State, where the party is seeking to strengthen its position ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former senator was asked about the political influence of former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who is now associated with the African Democratic Congress. In response, Adeyeye questioned the ADC’s performance in the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election and referred to Aregbesola’s performance in Osun Central.
He, however, acknowledged Aregbesola’s popularity and political following. Adeyeye argued that the former governor’s personal support could not automatically be transferred to another candidate if he was not himself contesting the election.
“If he were a candidate, believe you me, anybody would be hard-pressed to beat him in Osun,” Adeyeye said, while maintaining that his popularity would not necessarily translate directly into votes for another candidate.
The former lawmaker also commented on the popularity of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. Adeyeye attributed much of Adeleke’s appeal to his family background, suggesting that the governor’s personal popularity should be considered separately from the support enjoyed by his family.
The 2027 presidential election is scheduled for January 16, 2027, with political parties and campaign organisations already intensifying mobilisation and coalition-building efforts across the country.
Adeyeye’s comments come amid increasing political activity in the South-West, where the APC, opposition parties and various political movements are seeking to consolidate their support bases ahead of the election.
While the former senator expressed confidence in the APC’s position, the actual distribution of votes across the region will depend on voter participation, party organisation, candidates, campaign issues and developments before the election.
