Governor Dapo Abiodun has thrown his full weight behind Senator Solomon Adeola to succeed him in 2027, after the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) anointed the lawmaker as its consensus governorship candidate.
The endorsement came on Monday during an expanded caucus meeting in the state capital, presided over by the party’s chairperson. Attendees said the session, originally billed as a routine strategy gathering, quickly evolved into a show of force for Adeola’s candidacy.
Senator Adeola, who chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriations and currently represents Ogun West, was adopted without any dissenting voice, according to multiple sources at the meeting.
‘We will deliver him’
Addressing party faithful shortly after the adoption, Governor Abiodun made no effort to hide his preference. He described Adeola as not just a capable hand but his chosen successor—a remark that effectively positions the governor as the political godfather of the emerging arrangement.
“I am pleased to see Senator Adeola as my preferred successor,” Abiodun was quoted as saying. “I will do everything to ensure that the consensus candidate of our party wins the next governorship election in this state.”
The governor’s public declaration leaves little room for ambiguity. While the APC has yet to conduct its formal primary, Abiodun’s backing means Adeola enters the race with the full machinery of the state government potentially behind him.
A historic bid for Ogun West
Beyond the governor’s endorsement, Adeola’s adoption carries deep political symbolism. His home district, Ogun West Senatorial District, has agitated for decades over what locals call a “governorship jinx.” Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, no candidate from the district has occupied the state’s highest office.
Adeola, who previously represented Lagos West in the Senate between 2015 and 2023 before switching to Ogun West, is now being positioned as the man to break that cycle. Political analysts note that his cross-state legislative experience and formidable war chest make him a uniquely strong contender.
Unanswered questions
However, the consensus arrangement is far from a settled matter. The party has not yet conducted its official governorship primary, and other heavyweight aspirants remain in contention. Among them are Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Tunde Lemo, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; and Gboyega Isiaka, a familiar face in Ogun’s gubernatorial contests.
How these aspirants will react to Monday’s adoption remains unclear. Some party insiders fear the move could trigger internal discontent, potentially forcing the national leadership of the APC to intervene. Others argue that consensus remains the party’s preferred mechanism for avoiding a rancorous primary.
For now, Senator Adeola has declined to make a formal statement, but sources close to him say he is “grateful for the trust reposed in him” and is already reaching out to other aspirants to build a united front.
The coming weeks will reveal whether this consensus holds or fractures under the weight of competing ambitions.
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