Insiders Tell Why History Favors Senator Adeola Yayi As Gov Abiodun’s Successor

Although the decision on who will become the next Governor of Ogun State is far from finalized, and political parties have yet to decide their gubernatorial candidates—particularly the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), where the state’s most influential politicians hold sway—those familiar with Ogun State’s political history believe precedent already favors Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola as the next Governor.

This belief arises amid whispers that, contrary to popular conviction, outgoing Governor Dapo Abiodun may have another candidate in mind as his preferred successor.

Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, played a pivotal role in helping Abiodun get elected as Governor in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. It was widely assumed that he would naturally receive the governor’s backing as his successor, but emerging discussions suggest that “things have happened” to strain their rapport.

“And that is a good thing for Yayi because, in the history of Ogun State politics, it’s the aspirant with broad acceptance, opposed by the incumbent, who often emerges as successor,” according to a consensus of opinion.

Evidence supports this perspective, particularly when examining how Abiodun himself became Governor in 2019. The current Governor faced strong opposition from his predecessor—and fellow party member—Ibikunle Amosun. Despite Amosun’s formidable political influence, he couldn’t prevent Abiodun from becoming his successor. Similarly, Gbenga Daniel, though from an opposition party, couldn’t stop Amosun from assuming power, just as Olusegun Osoba, also from a rival party, couldn’t stop Daniel from becoming Governor.

“In each of those cases, the winners did exactly what Yayi has done—they built a statewide following. The opposition they faced pushed them to forge alliances across party lines, while avoiding direct confrontation with their adversaries. It feels like history repeating itself—a déjà vu with different players,” sources reveal.

Senator Yayi continues to assert his loyalty to Governor Abiodun but has also taken steps to improve his chances by establishing his presence in a political district with stronger influence. He currently represents Ogun West and is leveraging the ongoing agitation for his primary area, the traditionally low-vote Yewa region, to produce a Governor for the first time since the state’s creation in 1976.

However, Yayi recently established a claim to maternal roots in Ogun Central—a larger senatorial district that shares a rotational agreement with Ogun East, another political heavyweight region, in selecting the Governor. Based on this informal arrangement between the two high-vote areas, it is now Ogun Central’s turn to field a gubernatorial candidate. Governor Abiodun hails from Ogun East.

“So, history favors Yayi as the next Governor, even if the issues with DA (Dapo Abiodun) are resolved. If he gets DA’s support, the Governor would be the first to successfully install a preferred successor. That has never happened before in Ogun State, where a Governor has handed over to his chosen successor,” sources add.