By Segun Olatunji
As the Ogun State political landscape keeps buzzing with the euphoria of the recent endorsement of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola by the ruling All Progressives Congress as its consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election in the state, the incumbent lawmaker representing Ogun West Senatorial District in the National Assembly has continued, unrelentingly, to make calculated and deft political moves and manoeuvres to secure his victory in next year’s poll and clinch the Governor’s seat that has for about a half century eluded his part of the state, without much hassles.
Senator Adeola, popularly called Yayi, has within a short time since his adoption as the APC consensus governorship candidate for Ogun State pivoted from caucus meetings held behind closed doors to the open field, initiating and embarking on a series of strategic visits to his former co-aspirants, political stakeholders and party bigwigs across the state.
Although Yayi’s strategic visits to the former aspirants and party chieftains are a direct result of his adoption as the APC consensus governorship candidate, he has shifted his focus to reconciliation and consolidation to ensure a unified front ahead of the governorship election early next year.
Of course, Governor Dapo Abiodun’s announcement of the Ogun West Senator on April 13, 2026 as his successor is to enable the party to scale the dangerous hurdle of a potentially chaotic primary election, Senator Adeola Yayi’s visits are the final strokes in consolidating his candidacy.
The Ogun APC consensus candidate has already visited, among others, Sarafa Tunji Ishola, a former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and one of the foremost aspirants for the APC governorship ticket from Ogun Central. Impressed by Yayi’s visit, Ishola seized the opportunity to announce the collapse of the 24 support groups backing his aspiration into Yayi’s campaign structure. He also presented a 64-page socio-economic blueprint to Yayi for consideration and probable implementation when eventually elected.
Senator Adeola Yayi has also visited another strong contender, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, who has formally suspended her governorship ambition, pledging to work for the victory of the APC consensus governorship candidate in next year’s election.
By his visits to these high profile ex-aspirants and party bigwigs, Senator Adeola has neutralised the internal rivalry that could have been generated by his endorsement as the consensus governorship candidate for the APC in Ogun State. Effectively, he’s actively preventing the implosion that often results from such a consensus arrangement
The APC consensus governorship candidate has also visited party chieftains and bigwigs such as former governor Olusegun Osoba and Chief Joju Fadairo.
On his part, the APC consensus candidate has vowed to incorporate the manifestos and visions of former co-aspirants into his own agenda for governing the state when elected in 2027. He promised to integrate these documents to ensure collaborative and inclusive governance.
By his visits to these high profile ex-aspirants and party bigwigs, Senator Adeola has neutralised the internal rivalry that could have been generated by his endorsement as the consensus governorship candidate for the APC in Ogun State. Effectively, he’s actively preventing the implosion that often results from such a consensus arrangement.
Furthermore, by these visits, he is not only bridging the divides but also consolidating power. His outreach to his former co-aspirants can be described as a sophisticated blend of humility and political necessity. By his visits to the ex-aspirants, Senator Yayi is achieving some major goals, including a rancour-free transition, which will necessarily prevent a situation where disgruntled ex-aspirants will break away to align with the opposition, a common occurrence in past elections in the state.
Yayi’s “diplomatic shuttles” will also legitimise his consensus governorship candidacy. It will establish cross zonal legitimacy for his candidature. His candidacy is significant because it represents a historic shift towards Ogun West, which is the only district that has never produced a governor for the state in its 50-year history. Yayi’s visits to the leaders in Ogun Central, including Iyabo Obasanjo and Ishola are crucial for securing the “buy-in” of the other two senatorial districts, ensuring he’s seen as a candidate accepted by the entire state rather than just a section of it. By his moves to bring onto his side the same ex-aspirants he beat to clinch the governorship ticket, he is in actual fact transforming his “top-down” endorsement into a “ground-up” mandate.
Wittingly or unwittingly, his visits have unified the Ogun West agitation to produce the governor for the state for the first time since its creation. Senator Adeola is effectively leveraging this long-term desire of the Yewa/Awori division to produce a governor to frame himself as the final answer to their decades-long wait.
Senator Adeola’s visits are also setting the stage for a rancour-free primary election. Ongoing consultations are aimed at ensuring that the formal primary process is a mere formality. By securing the backing of major stakeholders in APC and former governors, including Chief Olusegun Osoba, Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the APC consensus governorship candidate is building a formidable united front that leaves very little room for a strong internal challenge.
Of course, the implications of these visits for Senator Adeola’s victory at the polls are profound. Internal opposition will be shrunk by his securing of the compliance and active support of ex-aspirants like Ishola and Iyabo Obasanjo. By this masterstroke, the potential pool of internal rebels is being dried up.
Most importantly, the opposition is made more weak by this development. A united APC front in Ogun, long plagued by internal, legacy rivalries, makes it difficult for the opposition to exploit gaps, especially given the ruling party’s dominant grassroots structure under Senator Adeola Yayi’s current campaign.
Yayi’s visits to ex-aspirants can also be viewed as a strategic positioning against the opposition. The early consensus strategy strengthens the ruling party against the opposition parties. By blocking potential sources of internal conflicts 18 months ahead of the election, the party can fully turn its entire machinery on winning the 2027 general elections rather than dissipating energy and wasting time and resources on internal friction.
It is exhilarating that Senator Adeola’s campaign, which is heavily backed by the structure that defined his tenure in Lagos, is now being fully integrated into the Ogun political apparatus, indicating a high-stakes campaign backed by the centre.
However, while the euphoria hangs on in the atmosphere within Senator Yayi’s camp, political observers have continued to express concern about the volatile nature of politics in Ogun State. Senator Adeola’s “360-degree” approach – visiting all, including those who may not immediately support him – is aimed at minimising risks. But the ultimate test will be the maintenance of this cohesion until election day in 2027.
Meanwhile, Senator Adeola has given strong indications that his administration will maintain continuity in governance while also promising to build upon the achievements of the outgoing Governor Abiodun. He’s also ensuring that the APC remains focused on the “Ogun West” agenda without alienating the two other districts – Ogun Central and Ogun East.
Yayi ni jo, Yayi ni jare!
. Olatunji, a Journalist and Political/Crisis Communication Strategist, writes from Ilaro, Ogun State
