Firmly In The Race, Willing & Ready – Insiders Speak on Tunde Lemo’s Ogun Guber Ambition

Top-level political insiders have confirmed that former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Tunde Lemo, is actively positioning himself as a contender in the race to succeed Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, in 2027.

“He is firmly in the race,” a source familiar with the ongoing consultations disclosed.

Another senior stakeholder added: “He is willing and ready to succeed Governor Abiodun.”

Governor Abiodun is expected to leave office in 2027 after completing two four-year terms.

Checks indicate that Lemo is seeking the governorship ticket on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the same party as the incumbent governor.

Lemo’s entry places him in contention with Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, who currently represents Ogun West in the Senate and is widely regarded as the frontrunner in the race. Adeola, a long-standing APC stalwart, controls one of the most visible and expansive political structures in the state.

However, despite his popularity and organisational strength, insiders point to a major political challenge for the senator: his Ogun West base is considered a relatively low-vote senatorial district.

Although Adeola traces his ancestral roots to Ogun Central, resistance persists among influential interests within the zone who insist that the next governor should be a thorough-bred indigene of the district.

These sentiments, sources say, have begun to crystallise around Tunde Lemo, who is seen as better aligned with the emerging zoning and identity considerations within Ogun Central.

This dynamic is particularly significant given the long-standing political pattern in the state, where Ogun Central and Ogun East have alternated in producing governors since Ogun State was created in 1976.

With Ogun East having produced the incumbent governor, pressure is mounting within Ogun Central to reclaim the governorship in 2027.

Profile: Who Is Tunde Lemo?

Tunde Lemo is a seasoned technocrat and financial expert with decades of experience in Nigeria’s banking and monetary policy space. He served as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, overseeing key regulatory and financial stability functions.

Prior to his appointment at the CBN, Lemo was Managing Director of WEMA Bank, where he played a notable role in institutional reform and balance-sheet restructuring.

Known for his low-profile but influential style, Lemo is regarded by allies as a bridge between technocratic competence and elite political acceptability—qualities that supporters believe could appeal to both party leaders and voters seeking administrative depth in the next phase of Ogun State’s leadership.

As intra-party calculations intensify ahead of 2027, insiders say Lemo’s growing acceptance within critical blocs of Ogun Central could significantly reshape the APC governorship contest.