The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has officially announced Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as its governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections. This decision follows a statewide primary conducted across all 20 local government areas in the state.
Adeola, who currently represents the Ogun West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, emerged unopposed in a process that party leaders described as peaceful, orderly, and inclusive. The exercise recorded strong participation from party members and was widely commended for its calm conduct and absence of violence across polling locations.
Governor Abiodun Highlights Consensus-Driven Selection Process
Governor Dapo Abiodun, who participated in the exercise at Ward 3, Iperu 1 in Ikenne Local Government Area, stated that the party adopted extensive consultations and internal dialogue to streamline the selection process. According to reports from Vanguard, the governor disclosed that over 700 aspirants initially showed interest in various elective positions under the APC ahead of the 2027 elections. However, a structured screening and engagement process helped the party arrive at consensus choices.
“In Ogun State, we have done things differently. We ensured extensive consultations with the leadership of our party across the state constituencies and local governments to build consensus around candidates, even while acknowledging that we have many brilliant and eminent party members capable of occupying those positions,” Abiodun said.
He added that efforts were made to carry all aspirants along even after the emergence of consensus candidates. “So, we undertook a rigorous exercise to screen over 700 aspirants and engage with their leaders. The idea was to identify the best candidates for each election. Having done that, we reached out to those who were not eventually selected and ensured they were accommodated politically,” he explained.
Strengthening Unity and Preventing Internal Divisions
The governor emphasized that the APC process in Ogun was designed to strengthen unity and prevent internal divisions. “The essence is to ensure that nobody feels defeated. There is no winner and no vanquished. Everyone is given a sense of belonging, and that is reflected in the fact that in many of our elections, we now have consensus candidates because others voluntarily accepted the decisions and rallied round the chosen aspirants,” he stated.
Abiodun also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC national leadership for reforms that, according to him, have strengthened internal democracy within the party, as reported by Premium Times.
Peaceful Primary Hailed as Model for Internal Democracy
Abiodun noted that the direct primary approach allowed party members at the ward level to participate actively in selecting candidates, describing the process as a true reflection of democratic principles. “I was a beneficiary of direct primaries in 2019, and I believe it always reflects the wishes and aspirations of the people,” he said.
He further commended party members and aspirants who embraced the process, saying their cooperation demonstrated commitment to party unity and progress. Announcing the results at Ward 3, Iperu 1, the Returning Officer for the Ikenne Local Government Area governorship primary, Dr. Femi Akinbile, said 837 registered members were recorded in the ward, with 832 accredited voters participating. He confirmed that Adeola secured 829 votes, with no other aspirant contesting in the ward, effectively cementing his emergence as the APC governorship candidate for Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
The APC primary process in Ogun has been widely praised as a model for internal democracy and party unity. The peaceful conduct of the exercise and the consensus-building approach adopted by the party leadership have set a positive precedent for other states to follow.
