A significant majority of members of the Ogun State House of Assembly have publicly endorsed Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, the representative of the state’s West Senatorial District, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election.
The declaration was made on Wednesday by 20 of the assembly’s 26 members, speaking through Majority Leader Yusuf Sheriff Abiodun at the Iwe-Iroyin Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Abeokuta. Abiodun stated that the lawmakers’ support is based on Senator Adeola’s extensive experience and his documented contributions to both Ogun State and Nigeria at large. “I am also using this opportunity to declare our unalloyed support for the gubernatorial bid of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola,” he said on behalf of the group.
Senator Adeola, popularly known as “Yayi,” currently serves as the Senator for Ogun West and has previously held seats in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, where he chaired key committees including the Senate Committee on Communications. His endorsement by a large faction of the state legislature signals a consolidation of early support within the party structure ahead of the governorship contest.
This development follows a similar move by the same cohort of lawmakers who had earlier expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027. Their alignment with both the national president and a prominent senatorial figure highlights ongoing internal dynamics within Ogun State’s APC as the party positions itself for future electoral cycles.
Ogun State, a critical southwest stronghold for the APC, will see its current governor, Dapo Abiodun, complete his second term in 2027, making the party’s primary succession planning a focal point. While Senator Adeola has not yet formally declared his candidacy, the endorsement from a majority of state assembly members provides a notable early boost to his prospective campaign.
The lawmakers’ statement underscores the traditional influence of the state legislature in gubernatorialSuccession politics. Their collective voice is often viewed as a reflection of factional alignments within the state chapter of the ruling party.
The 2027 gubernatorial race in Ogun is expected to be highly competitive, with several aspirants likely to vie for the APC ticket. Senator Adeola’s established political network and legislative experience position him as a serious contender. The formal endorsement from 20 assembly members marks a significant early milestone in what will be a protracted process leading to the party’s primary elections and, ultimately, the governorship contest.
