Insiders Tell Why Many Ogun Guber Aspirants Are Biding Their Time While Yayi Is Unrelenting

Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola remains the leader by a landmark distance in the race to determine the next Governor of Ogun State.

And the Senator, famously known as Yayi, is unrelenting in widening the gap.

It is part of the major gains of his unceasing campaign that stakeholders from each of the two senatorial zones likely to produce the successor to Governor Dapo Abiodun consider him an aspirant from their area.

Dapo Abiodun, who leaves office in 2027 after eight years of two terms, is from Ogun East.

Although he represents Ogun West at the Senate, Yayi has traced his maternal roots to Ogun Central, giving his supporters in the political zone ample reason to consider him a son of the soil.

But while Senator Yayi and his backers continue extensive efforts—and alliances—to actualize his ambition, other aspirants within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) appear to be embracing caution.

“Because the stakes are high regarding the 2027 election, it will take lots of negotiating and agreements, with President Bola Tinubu expected to midwife the process as someone with vested interest in the politics of the state and leader of the APC, before a candidate is agreed on. Ogun State doesn’t have a unilateral decision-maker, and this makes coming up with a consensus about anything, especially a gubernatorial candidate, very dicey,” insiders say.

Although there is no political power overshadowing others in Ogun State, it has four major political structures across party lines with cult-like followings.

Three are in the APC, namely: the SIA—owned by former Senator Ibikunle Amosun, OGD—housing the followers of former Governor “Otunba” Gbenga Daniel, and Yayi—powered by Senator Solomon Olamilekan.

The other formidable political structure is Lado—belonging to Ladi Adebutu, the face of the main opposition party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The other major political players, Governor Dapo Abiodun and elder statesman Olusegun Osoba, share virtually the same followers with lesser street clout. And there is the stand-alone serial gubernatorial candidate Gboyega Nasir Isiaka otherwise known as GNI in the same ranking.

The Yayi political structure is populated by former loyalists of Osoba, who was at one time the main political power in Ogun State. And the Governor Abiodun crowd is swelled by people with strong ties to the Ogun West Senator.

“But Osoba is semi-retired and has let go of active politicking. However, he is making up for his reduced influence in the field with closeness to the President,” sources say.

All the different political structures have diverse interests, except the ones led by Daniel and Amosun said to be in talks over “allied interests “.

Based on the scenario at play, insiders insist that a lot of factors go into determining who becomes the next Governor of Ogun State, particularly the candidate of the APC.

“That is why a lot of aspirants are mindful of expending resources in an all-out campaign, unlike Yayi, who has remained unrelenting,” sources say.