Abiodun Plays Catch-Up As Amosun’s Talk-Of-The-Town Show of Political Might Trends

On Sunday, January 25, 2026, former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun staged a birthday celebration that doubled as a powerful display of enduring political strength.

Amosun marked his 68th birthday with loyalists and supporters of his SIA (Senator Ibikunle Amosun) political family drawn from across Ogun State — a move widely seen as a deft effort to reconnect with, and reinforce, grassroots structures.

Held at the Ake Palace Pavilion, the event became an instant talk of the town even before it ended.

Videos and images of the venue filled to capacity spread rapidly, reigniting conversations about Amosun’s still-formidable grassroots influence.

The former governor’s open endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition further elevated the significance of the gathering. 

According to top-level political sources, the endorsement has strengthened indications that Amosun may be playing key behind-the-scenes roles for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.

“The last president from the North was President Muhammadu Buhari. He served eight years,” Amosun said, while asserting that “Now it is the turn of the South. President Tinubu is not just representing the South-West, but all of us in the South and, indeed, Nigeria. Respecting that rotational arrangement is a no-brainer for anyone who truly loves this country.”

The remarks, which quickly gained traction online and offline, reinforced Amosun’s positioning within the APC.

Having stepped down his own presidential ambition in 2022 and committed resources to Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 election, the former governor appears firmly anchored in the ruling party’s power calculus.

Claims of Amosun’s reach were further underlined by emerging disclosures that efforts were allegedly made to prevent many APC members from attending the celebration, including reported threats and transportation restrictions — moves that ultimately failed to dampen turnout.

As Amosun’s profile rose on the back of the event’s intimidating attendance, the Ogun State chapter of the APC loyal to Governor Dapo Abiodun moved swiftly.

On Monday, January 26, 2026, the Abiodun-led APC announced a closed-door stakeholders’ meeting in Ogun Central. The list of attendees notably excluded Amosun. 

No official outcome of the meeting was disclosed, a silence interpreted by some observers as a response to Amosun’s renewed visibility and growing momentum.

Insiders insist Amosun remains a dominant figure in Ogun Central, where he is the immediate past senator. 

His SIA political family is widely regarded as one of the four most formidable political structures across party lines in the state.

Political tensions between Amosun and Abiodun are long-standing, and the latest developments have once again brought their rivalry into sharp focus.

Beyond the APC, Amosun’s birthday celebration also attracted goodwill across party lines.

Ladi Adebutu, leader of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, described him as a “principled, committed, and responsible leader.”

Similarly, a top SIA political family member, former Ogun state House of Assembly Speakee Muyiwa Oladipo, hailed Amosun as “a reliable and supportive leader,” a sentiment echoed by many of his loyalists — further reinforcing the perception of a political figure whose influence remains very much alive.