Amosun Dragged Back Into Ogun Senatorial Contest

Supporters of former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun are renewing efforts to return him to elective politics, dragging him back into the race for the Ogun Central Senatorial seat ahead of the 2027 general election.

Unverified claims circulating across the state allege that Amosun has displaced Senator Salisu Afolabi Shaib as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Ogun Central.

Shaib, the incumbent senator, retained the party’s ticket largely because of his close relationship with Governor Dapo Abiodun, who controls the APC structure in Ogun State. 

He previously served as Abiodun’s Chief of Staff and was also Deputy Chief of Staff under Amosun, although sources familiar with both administrations say their working relationship was far from cordial.

Shaib has remained a trusted ally of Abiodun, whose political rivalry with Amosun dates back to the period when the governor first declared his ambition to lead the state.

Despite being touted by his supporters as President Bola Tinubu’s preferred choice for the Ogun Central seat, Amosun failed to secure the APC ticket. 

Political observers attributed the setback largely to his prolonged face-off with Abiodun, reinforced by other influential figures opposed to his ambition.

Although Amosun is widely regarded as commanding one of the strongest political structures in Ogun Central across party lines, his supporters believed the odds were stacked against him. 

Convinced that the primary would not be a level playing field, the former governor stayed away from the contest, paving the way for Shaib to emerge unopposed.

Weeks after the primary, however, Amosun’s supporters insist the contest is far from over. 

They claim the APC national leadership has replaced Shaib with the former governor as the party’s candidate. While the claim remains unverified, it has spread rapidly across Ogun Central and beyond.

What the Electoral Act says

Under Nigeria’s Electoral Act, a political party cannot arbitrarily replace a candidate who has emerged from a valid primary. Candidate substitution is only permitted in limited circumstances, such as the candidate’s voluntary withdrawal in writing or death within the timelines prescribed by law. Any replacement outside those conditions could be challenged in court.