Tinubu’s Aide Questions Adeleke Campaign Funding

Tinubu's Aide Questions Adeleke Campaign Funding (News Central TV) Tinubu's Aide Questions Adeleke Campaign Funding (News Central TV)
Temitayo Ajayi. Credit: X.

Presidential aide Temitope Ajayi has questioned how the administration of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke financed its election campaign, alleging that public funds were pillaged despite the Adeleke family’s wealth.

Ajayi made the remarks in a post on X on Thursday while weighing in on the controversy surrounding the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s investigation into the Osun State Government and the freezing of one of its official bank accounts.

He criticised those condemning the anti-graft agency’s actions, saying they had abandoned their usual calls for transparency and accountability because of political interests.

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“Many people can be so conflicted when politics and interests are involved,” Ajayi wrote.

“To imagine those who always demand accountability and transparency in use of public fund do not see anything wrong in the use of state fund for election expenses.”

The presidential aide also questioned arguments that the alleged withdrawal of ₦11 billion from the state treasury should not attract scrutiny because the Adeleke family is wealthy.

Tinubu's Aide Questions Adeleke Campaign Funding
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State. Credit: Osun State Government

“Suddenly, N11 billion naira is not so much a big money to be taken out of a state government treasury for election just because Adelekes are billionaires and it is an amount that Davido can personally underwrite,” he said.

“If the Adelekes are billionaires and can fund election expenses from their famous family wealth, why then the pillage of Osun State resources,” he added.

His comments come as the EFCC faces criticism from opposition politicians over its decision to freeze an official Osun State Government account as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged fraudulent handling of state funds.

The commission has said its investigation began in March 2026 and insisted the restriction on the account was a lawful preventive measure taken in the course of its probe.

It has also denied allegations that the action was intended to influence the forthcoming Osun governorship election.

The Osun State Government, however, has maintained that the account was frozen without due legal process, describing the action as politically motivated and aimed at disrupting governance ahead of the poll.

On Thursday, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde also criticised the EFCC, accusing the Nigerian Government of using federal institutions to intimidate opposition-controlled states and warning that such actions could erode public confidence in democratic institutions.

Ajayi’s intervention further deepens the political dispute over the EFCC’s investigation, with both the Presidency’s allies and opposition leaders trading accusations over the handling of the Osun funds probe ahead of the state’s governorship election.

Author

  • Olayide Oluwafunmilayo Soaga is a Nigerian journalist with four years of professional experience. She reports on health, gender, education and development, with a focus on impact-driven storytelling.

    She was runner-up for the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) Best Solutions Journalism Award in West Africa in 2024 and a finalist for the 2025 West Africa Media Excellence Awards.

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