How Yayi emerged Ogun APC consensus gov candidate — Abiodun

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has explained the factors that played crucial roles in picking Solomon Adeola, fondly called Yayi, the senator representing Ogun West, as the consensus governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 elections.

Abiodun said the journey to pick Adeola as his successor started about six months ago with a series of top political meetings involving President Bola Tinubu and other eminent party leaders.

The governor stated that it was his desire to break the jinx of Ogun West senatorial district never having produced a governor, and that having assessed Adeola as competent with the wherewithal to prosecute the governorship race, he concluded he was the right person for the job.

Abiodun disclosed this on Monday while unveiling Adeola as the party’s 2027 governorship candidate during a caucus meeting held at the party secretariat, Abeokuta.

He said the decision to pick a consensus candidate was aimed at presenting a formidable flag bearer and ending the decades-long absence of an Ogun West governor since the creation of the state.

The governor explained that the caucus meeting was convened to secure the buy-in of major party stakeholders, adding that he had earlier met with other aspirants who agreed to support the party’s choice.

“Today, those I considered front-runners in Ogun West have given their consent and bought into the idea.

“The reason Ogun West has not been able to produce a governor until now is due to a lack of cooperation. I am proud to say that I have spoken to Biodun Akinlade, Gboyega Isiaka, and I can confirm that they are fully on board with having a single Ogun West candidate.

“Nothing will give me more joy than to break the 50-year-old jinx. Nothing will give me more joy than to fulfil the aspirations of my predecessors and ensure that Ogun West produces the next governor of Ogun State.

“On that note, permit me to unveil the person we have decided will be the next flag bearer of our great party in Ogun State — Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola,” he said.

According to the governor, a series of consultations were held with key stakeholders, including a meeting with Tinubu, to arrive at an acceptable candidate for the 2027 election.

“A lot of discussions have taken place behind the scenes, and these discussions did not just start a month or two ago. I must confess that they began about six months ago.

“The President called Olusegun Osoba, who in turn reached out to me and a few others. He expressed satisfaction with what we are doing and indicated his interest in having a say in who would work with him in Ogun State in the next election,” he said.

Abiodun added that after carefully assessing all aspirants who indicated interest in the race, a candidate was selected based on competence, capacity and Tinubu’s assessment of each aspirant.

“He asked me which senatorial district I preferred for the next governor to come from, and without hesitation, I said Ogun West. When he asked why, I told him it is the only senatorial district that has not produced a governor in the history of the state.

“I also told him that this position aligns with the aspirations of my predecessors. We may disagree on other issues, but on this, we are in agreement,” he said.

He noted that while all aspirants have their strengths, some possess stronger credentials than others, stressing that a governorship aspirant must also have the financial capacity to run an election rather than depend solely on external support.

He said the party had grown in leaps and bounds over the last seven years as new members joined and it became the dominant party with little or no opposition.

The governor noted that though every member had the right to aspire, there was need for members to align and streamline their thoughts on the forthcoming elections, cautioning members against violating the Electoral Act.

In his acceptance speech, Adeola pledged to continue on the path charted by past leaders, saying the state would experience more development as he was aware of the aspirations of its founding fathers.

He noted the strategic importance of the state in the country, saying that with the support and cooperation of all, he would not let the party or the state down.