Ogun 2027: Dep Gov Salako-Oyedele, Supporters Restrategize

Fresh political realignments are said to be underway within the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele and her supporters reportedly review their strategy following the party’s recent primary elections.

Party insiders disclosed that the move followed setbacks suffered by the deputy governor and many of her loyalists during the primaries.

Salako-Oyedele was unsuccessful in her bid to secure the APC governorship ticket and subsequently failed to clinch the party’s senatorial ticket for Ogun West.

According to party sources, the strong political alliance she built around Governor Dapo Abiodun since becoming deputy governor in 2019 was unable to translate into victory at the primaries despite the governor’s significant influence within the state chapter of the APC.

Abiodun secured the party’s senatorial ticket for Ogun East, while his former Chief of Staff, Shaib Afolabi Salisu, retained the APC senatorial ticket for Ogun Central.

Several politicians identified with Salako-Oyedele’s political camp in Ogun West also failed to secure tickets for elective offices, including House of Representatives member Tunji Akinosi, who lost his re-election bid during the primaries.

The outcome, insiders said, has prompted a strategic reassessment within the deputy governor’s political camp, with renewed efforts to rebuild relationships across different blocs within the APC.

“They are moving away from the hard-line loyalty that gave birth to DANSOL towards a broader and more collaborative approach that accommodates different interests within the party,” one party source said.

DANSOL, an acronym derived from Dapo Abiodun and Noimot Salako-Oyedele, served as the political platform for supporters of both leaders, particularly in Ogun West and the deputy governor’s Ota political base.

However, the platform reportedly came under pressure during the APC primaries after many of its loyalists were unable to secure the tickets they sought, triggering discontent within the group.

“It became obvious after the primaries that relying on the governor’s political influence alone may not be enough going forward. That is why there is ongoing fence-mending and renewed engagement with different tendencies within the party,” another source said.

Efforts to obtain comments from Salako-Oyedele’s camp on the reported political realignment were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.