Hon. Adekunle Akinrinde, the Member representing Osun Central Senatorial District in the Nigerian Youth Parliament, has reacted to a Facebook post by a columnist, Folorunso Fatai Adisa, dismissing claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not support the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Osun State, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO).

In his response shared on Facebook, Akinrinde argued that President Tinubu has, over the years, demonstrated a political style that includes maintaining cordial relationships and, at times, supporting politicians outside his party.

Describing himself as "an attentive student of history," Akinrinde said Tinubu's political antecedents show that extending support across party lines is not unprecedented.

To support his argument, he referenced the 2025 Anambra governorship election, where the APC fielded Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu as its candidate. According to him, despite President Tinubu presenting the APC flag to Ukachukwu, the outcome of the election reflected strong goodwill towards the incumbent governor, Prof. Charles Soludo of APGA. He also cited the public support expressed by then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, for Soludo.

Akinrinde further recalled the 2023 Oyo State governorship election, claiming that President Tinubu openly backed Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of APC candidate Teslim Folarin.

He also referred to the 2016 Ondo governorship election, alleging that Tinubu supported Olusola Oke, then of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), instead of the APC candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, who eventually won the election.

Based on these examples, Akinrinde maintained that Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke would not be the first opposition politician to enjoy Tinubu's goodwill.

"Ademola Adeleke is not the first opposition to enjoy support from Bola Ahmed Tinubu and he won't be the last. Asiwaju has a history of courting with the opposition, and this will not be an exception," Akinrinde wrote.

He added that Governor Adeleke remains "the most popular and accepted candidate" and predicted that the governor would win the forthcoming Osun governorship election "with a wide margin with or without any external support."

The reaction followed an earlier Facebook post by Folorunso Fatai Adisa, who dismissed as "cheap propaganda" claims that President Tinubu was not backing the APC's governorship candidate in Osun.

Adisa had insisted that President Tinubu, as the national leader of the APC, remains committed to the party and its candidates, describing suggestions to the contrary as politically implausible. He also pointed to the President's previous commendation of AMBO as "a steady hand in Nigeria's financial and political landscape" and "a loyal, trusted associate" as evidence of the confidence reposed in the APC flagbearer.

The exchange adds to the growing political debate ahead of the Osun governorship election, with both APC and PDP supporters continuing to contest narratives surrounding President Tinubu's perceived political disposition in the state.