Olawepo-Hashim made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, while reacting to Adeleke’s reported inclusion in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council.

The Accord Party candidate also rejected the suggestion that Adeleke’s position as the party’s only elected governor automatically made him its national leader.

He argued that leadership of a political party rests with its recognised executive structure rather than solely with an elected officeholder.

Olawepo-Hashim maintained that Adeleke’s political influence would not necessarily translate into votes for Tinubu across Osun State, insisting that voters would make their own decisions during the presidential election.

He described Osun residents as people with strong political convictions and said he remained confident that the Accord Party could secure support in the state, regardless of the governor’s position on the presidential race.

The governor had reaffirmed his support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition after winning re-election in the August 15, 2026 Osun governorship election. Adeleke, who contested on the Accord Party platform, secured 511,067 votes, defeating the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes, according to the declared results.

During the television interview, Olawepo-Hashim also characterised the 2027 election as an unusual contest, arguing that the performance of the Tinubu administration would be a major factor in determining the outcome.

He criticised the Federal Government’s handling of the economy, insecurity and national unity, alleging that its policies had placed significant pressure on ordinary Nigerians. These comments represented his political assessment of the administration.

The Accord Party candidate further expressed confidence in his own electoral prospects, claiming that Tinubu would receive less than 20 per cent of the votes if the presidential election were held at the time of the interview. The statement was his political prediction, not an established measure of voter intentions.

The debate over Adeleke’s support for Tinubu highlights the competing political interests emerging ahead of the 2027 general election. While political endorsements can influence campaigns, the eventual outcome will depend on voters and the official electoral process.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia