2027: Odufowokan Backs Yayi for Ogun Governorship, Says APC’s Performance Gives Party Clear Edge
Senior Special Assistant to Ogun State Governor on Public Communications, Otunba Dare Odufowokan, has declared that Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, remains the most qualified candidate to succeed Governor Dapo Abiodun in the 2027 Governorship election, insisting that continuity of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration is the best path for sustaining the state’s development.
Speaking during an appearance on The Platform, a current affairs programme on Fresh 107.9 FM Abeokuta on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, Odufowokan said the APC would approach the 2027 election with confidence, citing Governor Dapo Abiodun’s achievements across infrastructure, economic development, education, healthcare, security and industrial expansion as strong selling points for the ruling party.
According to him, Ogun State has witnessed what he described as over seven years of purposeful and people-oriented governance under Governor Abiodun, adding that the administration has significantly improved the state’s profile and laid a solid foundation for sustainable growth.
He argued that the natural progression for the state is to maintain continuity by electing another APC governor, stressing that Senator Adeola possesses the experience, political capacity and administrative competence required to consolidate on the gains already recorded.
Odufowokan said Governor Abiodun’s endorsement of Senator Adeola as the APC consensus governorship candidate received widespread acceptance among party members and supporters, which, according to him, reflects growing confidence in the senator’s leadership credentials and vision for Ogun State.
The Governor’s aide also anchored his argument on the principle of fairness and political inclusion, noting that the three major senatorial districts of Remo, Ijebu and Egba have all produced governors since the return to democratic rule. He maintained that the time had come for the Yewa-Awori axis to produce the state’s next governor, describing the aspiration as a legitimate quest for equity and justice.
He expressed optimism that the 2027 transition would mark a historic moment in Ogun State’s political history, predicting what he described as the state’s first seamless transfer of power between an outgoing governor and an incoming governor from the same political family while the incumbent remains in office until the constitutional handover date.
Reacting to opposition claims that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) enjoys greater popularity in parts of the state, Odufowokan dismissed the argument, insisting that elections are determined by broader considerations than popularity alone.
He referenced a popular Yoruba proverb which emphasizes fairness in the distribution of opportunities, arguing that allowing Ogun East to retain the governorship for another eight years after the combined sixteen-year administrations of former Governor Gbenga Daniel and Governor Dapo Abiodun would undermine the principle of equitable power rotation.
He maintained that residents across Ogun State recognize the need to extend the opportunity of governorship to Yewa, describing the move as a fair and inclusive political arrangement capable of strengthening unity within the state.
Odufowokan further attributed the APC’s confidence ahead of the election to what he described as the positive impact of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Governor Abiodun’s developmental policies, saying both administrations have continued to implement programmes aimed at improving the welfare of citizens and accelerating economic growth.
Speaking on Senator Adeola’s readiness for executive leadership, the governor’s spokesman highlighted the lawmaker’s extensive legislative background, including his service in the Lagos State House of Assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate, where he currently chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriation. He argued that the senator’s deep understanding of budgeting, fiscal management and legislative processes would serve as a major advantage in managing the affairs of Ogun State.
Responding to allegations from critics that Senator Adeola previously worked against Yewa’s governorship ambition during previous election cycles, Odufowokan rejected the claims, insisting that the senator remained committed to the APC because he believed the party offered the most realistic platform for the emergence of a governor from the Yewa-Awori axis.
Reflecting on Governor Abiodun’s tenure, Odufowokan described the administration as one that would be remembered for strengthening existing institutions while initiating new projects that would benefit future generations. He added that developmental projects executed under the current administration have spread across the three senatorial districts, touching virtually every part of Ogun State.
Political observers believe the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State is already gathering momentum, with the ruling APC and the opposition PDP expected to field formidable candidates in what is anticipated to be one of the state’s most closely watched electoral contests.
