Behind Growing Talks Dep Gov Salako – Oyedele Wants To Succeed Abiodun

Checks here and there reveal that the talks that Noimot Salako-Oyedele, the Deputy Governor of Ogun state wants to succeed Governor Dapo Abiodun are getting louder.

She has become a consideration in reports and discussions regarding who becomes the next Governor of Ogun state – despite not confirming (or denying) the ambition.

Governor Abiodun is ineligible to contest as his second term ends in 2027 – according to the dictates of the constitution.

Salako – Oyedele has been the deputy governor since Abiodun first won election in 2019 and re-election in 2023. She is only eligible for a single term in office based on a constitutional amendment signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in June 2018.

Talks Salako Oyedele is interested in succeeding Abiodun started towards the end of last year in Ota, Ogun West, and have continued to increase.

Ota is the Deputy Governor’s political base.

However, close watchers of political events in Ogun state insist that there is a big but to actualizing her ambition.

Salako – Oyedele’s strongest play so far is loyalty to her principal, Governor Abiodun.

“That means she is seen as not a threat and does things that further that conviction, and interestingly Yayi, the person who helped the Governor win his second term in office and also contributed to his first term win in 2019 is a leading contender to become the next Governor of Ogun state. And to add to factors at play, Yayi is from the same political zone as Salako Oyedele” a source pointed out.

Yayi is Ogun West Senator, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola the owner of one of the most formidable political structures in Ogun state.

The Senator who moved from being Lagos West Senator to Ogun West Senator in 2023 is said to be aggressively courting the people of Ogun state ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial election while Salako Oyedele continues to play “loyal” to Governor Abiodun.

Added to the “but” in talks about the Deputy Governor’s gubernatorial ambition is the more elaborate issue of the coalition to stop Abiodun from determining who becomes his successor.

Prominent politicians with fanatical followings, Former Governors Ibikunle Amosun and Gbenga Daniel have banded together to produce the next Governor of Ogun state.

And, they have tentatively picked Sharafadeen Ishola, a politician with more visible stature than the Deputy Governor as their choice.

These are outside of other challenges including fingered interests from former House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole and respected leader, Aremo Olusegun Osoba backing his son, Olumide Osoba to succeed Amosun. This is plus the reported determination of unrelenting contender, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka to have another go at the chance to be governor for the fourth time.

Olusegun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel, Amosun, Adeola Yayi, Dapo Abiodun, Gboyega Nasir Isiako, Dimeji Bankole and Salako-Oyedele are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Outside of their party they have the politician who almost snatched victory from Abiodun in the last general election, Ladi Adebutu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to contend with.