Politics
3 Main Contenders In Early Lead To Succeed Abiodun & How They Stand
Interests in who becomes his successor remain raging topic
Although the election will be held in 2027, talks about who succeeds the Governor of Ogun state, Dapo Abiodun are like it will be this year.
Abiodun is on his second term in office and is not eligible for another term – according to the dictates of the constitution.
Interests in who becomes his successor remain a raging topic because of the fractured political alliances across the state, particularly within the ruling All Progressives Congress.
SocietyNow.Ng’s checks reveal three key political players in an early lead.
They are the most talked about aspirant, Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola the politician popularly known as Yayi.
The former Lagos Senator elected Ogun West Senator in the last election is widely considered the most intentional contender. He remains unrelenting becoming the Governor of Ogun state since 2013. The virile and extensive political structure he groomed over time is credited with providing the platform – in alliance with others – that gave Governor Abiodun his first and second term in office. Talks of misgivings between the duo over recent federal government appointments and the chain reactions have, however, allegedly watered perception about Yayi having the Governor in his corner. The Senator is from a low-vote area of Yewa, that is yet to produce a Governor in Ogun state.
Sharafadeen Ishola, the former Minister for Mine and Steel is another contender seen as “serious”. The potency behind Ishola’s aspiration is traced to formidable political structures in Ogun state. They are former Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Senator Gbenga Daniel’s political families. Amosun and Daniel are said to have joined hands to produce the next Governor of Ogun state and Sharafa Ishola also a former Commissioner is described as the anointed at press time. Both political leaders are at odds with Governor Abiodun. The aspirant is from the Ogun Central, one of the two dominant high votes that have been producing Governors in the state.
Taking up the rear is the Minister for Finance, Wale Edun. Edun is seen as a strong possibility in the race to determine the next Governor of Ogun state based on the perceived wishes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. From the high-vote area of Ogun Central, Edun does not have a political structure within the state to his name but the formidable influence of President Tinubu, if the latter chooses to back him. The talks that he remains the choice of Tinubu – who has a long standing interest in his political fortune – to become the next Governor continue to give wings to Edun’s gubernatorial aspiration on the lips of many.
All the front runners are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
