OLAYINKA OLUKOYA writes on the strategies that led to the emergence of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) as the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, and the involvement of political gladiators from the state in ensuring that the long-standing agitation for power shift to Ogun West Senatorial District comes to reality.

The race for the Ogun Government House, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, in the February 2027 election, effectively narrowed on Monday, April 13, 2026, when Governor Dapo Abiodun announced Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as “Yayi”, as the consensus governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor’s declaration, which was made at a caucus meeting of the ruling party in the state called APC Strategic Caucus meeting, held at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta, ended months of behind-the-scene negotiations in respect of the next election. It also positioned Ogun West Senatorial District as the one to potentially host the governorship seat from 2027, something that has not happened since the state was created in 1976.

The meeting was convened by the chairman of Ogun State APC, Chief Yemi Sanusi, and it was attended by the party’s heavyweights, including Governor Abiodun and three former governors – Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Senators Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun – alongside serving and former National Assembly members, including Senators Kola Bajomo, Salisu Shuaib, Gbenga Kaka, and Gbenga Obadara.

Governor Abiodun informed the gathering that Ogun APC had “already settled on its preferred standard-bearer as he unveiled Senator Adeola.

The announcement drew vociferous cheers from supporters, with electrifying cheers enveloping the party secretariat. Abiodun explained that the choice of Adeola was one of continuity, unity, and a deliberate plan to break Ogun West’s 50-year-long for the governorship seat.

Journey to consensus

According to Governor Abiodun, the consensus-building kicked off covertly about six months ago. He disclosed that the process included consultations with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to arrive at what he described as an acceptable candidate.

The governor further disclosed that he reached out and spoke to two current House of Representatives members – Biodun Iziaq Akinlade and Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI) – two other Ogun West aspirants – who are fully on board with the idea of having a single Ogun West candidate.

While commending other aspirants, particularly the duo of Akinlade and Isiaka, for their maturity and political magnanimity, Abiodun described the outcome as “no victor, no vanquished.”

Speaking after his announcement as the party’s 2027 candidate, Adeola thanked the leaders and members of the party and pledged to continue on the legacy of Governor Abiodun.

“I will not let Ogun, the Gateway State, and the APC down. I pledge to sustain Ogun’s trajectory as the fastest-growing economy and industrial haven in Nigeria, “said the Ogun West senator.

Why Adeola?

Prior to the actual announcement of the consensus arrangement, APC leaders and stakeholders had bought into a zoning arrangement that they believed would address the political imbalance in the state.

According to a party stalwart, who preferred anonymity, the APC leaders had agreed that power should shift to the Ogun West. This position was corroborated by Governor Abiodun, when he said: “nothing will give me more joy than to break the 50-year-old jinx” of the district not producing a governor.

Also, the leaders cited Adeola’s track record of educational advocacy, youth empowerment, and infrastructural development. Specific mentions were made of his sponsorship of the Federal University of Technology, Ilaro bill, and consistent interventions across all local government areas in Ogun West. It was further discovered that grassroots appeal and service delivery were other factors that stood in favour of Adeola. Adeola’s ability to address the infrastructural neglect in Ogun West, with the provision of roads, health facilities, school buildings, and job opportunities, also worked in his favour.

Another factor pointed out by the leaders was the senator’s demonstration of party unity, foresight, and strategic direction of the APC.

From consensus to campaign

Governor Abiodun cautioned that “the adoption does not guarantee electoral victory” and urged members to work for success in the February 6, 2027 election. Political observers, however, noted that the early endorsement could narrow the field of aspirants and consolidate support around Adeola within the party structure.

Adeola’s parley with Ogun West APC, stakeholders

Following his emergence, Adeola swiftly commenced parley and fence-mending, beginning from his senatorial district. At Ilaro last Sunday, the senator met with the APC stakeholders and leaders in Ogun West, where he called for unity and cohesion ahead of the next year’s poll. Speaking at the strategic meeting, he said the party in the district must now be more formidable and close ranks in order to emerge victorious in the 2027 election.

He explained that the meeting became imperative to solicit unity of all interests within the party, noting that every group will be carried along in the campaigns and process of the election.

Adeola expressed gratitude to other aspirants, particularly Isiaka and Akinlade, for their show of sportsmanship during and after his adoption.

Commending President Tinubu, Governor Abiodun and Osoba for playing pivotal roles in the “rancour-free consensus arrangement,” he lauded Senators Kola Bajomo and Akin Odunsi for brokering a parley among the three leading aspirants ahead of the announcement.

“I am highly elated that this stakeholders’ meeting, where Ogun West will stand as one, is taking place. And I want to assure you that your show of love and support will not be taken for granted. Honestly, I never expected that I would be picked by our great party to be the consensus governorship candidate in Ogun. The whole arrangement came to me as a surprise. So, I want to express my profound gratitude to my father, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for playing a father-figure role in ensuring Ogun West was considered for the gubernatorial ticket.

The senator, however, urged supporters of other aspirants to close ranks and work together for the success of the APC in the 2027 election.

“Followers and supporters, out of love and passion, create enemies for their leaders. There is no winner and no loser here in this governorship race. Let us stand in unity, embrace each other, and work for the overall victory of the APC in the 2027 poll.

“I have not promised anybody any position or negotiated out anything; I strongly believe in the leadership of the party. All groups will be adequately represented in electioneering and the eventual administration. I belong to everybody; I will not leave everyone behind. This stakeholders’ meeting, where all the major political players in Ogun West are seated, has clearly shown that Ogun West is one indivisible entity.

“Therefore, I want to call on our people to rally support for the party to ensure APC wins presidential, governorship and other elections next year,” Adeola stressed

He promised to visit APC governorship aspirants from the other senatorial districts, to court them and enlist their support, submitting: “We will campaign vigorously across the nooks and crannies of Ogun.”

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Ishiaq Adekunle Salako, described the meeting as a “unifier” to bring every party stakeholder on board.

In their respective remarks, the Ogun State deputy governor, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, former deputy governor, Mrs. Salmot Badru, former Minister of State for Education, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, Isiaka and Akinlade, all pledged their readiness to work for the success of the party and emergence of Senator Adeola as the first governor to be produced by Ogun West.

Shortly after the strategic meeting, Senator Adeola, accompanied by some APC leaders and Ogun West stakeholders, held a closed meeting with traditional rulers in the district.

For Adeola, who currently represents Ogun West in the Senate, the task is to convert elite consensus into statewide mandate. His camp is leaning on a narrative of equity for Ogun West, legislative competence, and continuity of Abiodun’s industrialization drive.

Outside the endorsement venue, the Ogun APC consensus candidate has, however, begun a journey of unity and oneness by seeking the support of other aspirants in ensuring the victory of the party at the polls in 2027.

After meeting with leaders of Ogun West, he was at the Abeokuta residence of the former Nigeria’s Envoy to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Isola, who is also a aspirant from the Central senatorial district, to seek his support. This step, according to analysts, was a bold one that could guarantee massive victory. Isola, shortly after Adeola’s announcement, urged his supporters to stay calm and remain peaceful, while he embarked on consultations on the next line of action on his aspiration.

The former High Commissioner who had occupied key positions in the political history of Ogun and Nigeria, made it clear that he had been a believer of the “Ogun West Agenda” since 2011, when he was the director-general of the governorship campaign of the late General Tunji Olurin.

While describing the visit as a significant step towards reconciliation and inclusion, he handed Adeola a 64-page socio-economic blueprint developed for Ogun State, to the party’s candidate and expressed willingness to share it with the APC candidate for possible integration into his policy framework.

Voice of the people

The announcement of Adeola as the consensus candidate of APC is a major political development in the history of the state, says Bolaji Alalade.

Alalade, a political analyst, in an interview with our correspondent, said the announcement has sent jitters to the opposing parties, because Senator Adeola has strong support in the grassroots. He said the lawmaker has continued to spread his tentacles beyond Ogun West.

He explained that there are many support groups rooting for his emergence as the next governor of the state.

Alalade noted that Yayi’s antecedents from Lagos West to Ogun West made the feat achievable, explaining that his popularity spreads beyond Ogun West. He described him as a household name in Nigeria’s politics, not only by virtue of his position as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, but also by various programmes he embarked on to affect the lives of the people positively.

Alalade said: “Yayi has strong grassroots support groups spread across the State. His acceptability by the people of the state is not in doubt. He is doing well for the people, in terms of quality representation; Ogun West has never had it so good. He deserves the spot of administering Ogun after the expiration of Governor Abiodun’s tenure.”

For Senator Adeola, the first hurdle has been crossed, but it remains just the first step in a chain of activities that would lead to the governorship election. How he pulls together the internal workings of the APC to rally Ogun State people behind his ambition remains the next step. For now, his camp and the APC can bask in the euphoria of a successful consensus deal. (Nigerian Tribune)

•Ogun State Gov. Dapo Abiodun has endorsed Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola as consensus governorship candidate for 2027