- By Premier World News (PWN) Political Desk
Exclusive: Internal APC Rift Escalates in Ogun as Yayi Adoption Sparks Rebuke from State Deputy Governor, Stirring Political Faultlines Ahead of 2027 Governorship
A sharp political standoff is intensifying within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State as the 2027 governorship contest begins to take defined shape, raising critical questions about leadership credibility, regional ambition and strategic coherence within the party.
The situation escalated after a recent media engagement organised by Ogun West Professionals for Yayi in Ilaro, Yewa South, where Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele spoke in support of Ogun West’s long-standing aspiration to produce the next governor.
At the event, some participants attempted to position Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as a credible candidate capable of fulfilling that agenda.
However, the rallying moment quickly became controversial when Ogun State Deputy Governor Engr. Noimot Salako-Oloyede publicly rebuked what she described as external interference in state politics.
In an officially issued letter, she argued that while sentiments of fairness and inclusion from Ogun West are legitimate, the Senate Leader’s involvement in promoting a specific aspirant crossed a line and risked undermining proper internal party processes.
According to the Deputy Governor, formal direction on the 2027 governorship race should emanate from recognised party leadership, not ad-hoc media declarations.
The exchange has underlined a rising tension within APC ranks as stakeholders debate whether the governorship candidature should be shaped by regional mobilisation or by broader statewide consensus.
Adding to the political dialogue, veteran politician Senator Olugbenga Obadara, present at a recent political summit that was misrepresented online, issued an official public disclaimer clarifying that no former Ogun lawmaker met in Abuja to endorse any candidate for the 2027 governorship.
He emphasised that political endorsements must follow decency, decorum and proper processes and cautioned against fabrications that could undermine unity within the party. (Premier World News – PWN has reviewed and confirmed the authenticity of this disclaimer).
While supporters of Senator Adeola point to his three terms in the National Assembly, leadership roles and involvement in developmental interventions across segments of the state, including community projects and empowerment programmes, political observers note that these efforts have not yet crystallised into a broad-based consensus or unified support for his candidacy.
Some critics dismiss district-centred endorsements as symbolic rather than grounded in substantive grassroots legitimacy.
Indeed, discussions among political analysts reflect that Ogun State has a wealth of historically rooted leaders from Yewa/Awori and other districts whose local identity and long-term engagement in state politics are less contested.
Among those often highlighted by stakeholders for their deep community ties and governance experience are leaders such as former Speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole, whose political pedigree and connections remain influential within APC circles and have been deployed in conversations about Ogun’s future state leadership, as well as seasoned public figures like Sarafa Tunji Ishola, Bimbo Ashiru, Lanre Tejuosho and Ladi Adebutu, whose roots in Ogun political and socio-economic life are firmly acknowledged.
By contrast, critics of Senator Adeola’s gubernatorial push have raised questions about the depth of his connection to Yewa beyond political mobilisation, pointing to debates over his ancestral heritage even as Yayi himself has publicly asserted his indigeneship through paternal and maternal lineage.
The question is – “Can Ogun West’s Noise Match Lemo’s Credentials?”
Political operatives aligned with Mr. Tunde Lemo, a seasoned technocrat, administrator, economist and accountant with deep governance experience, argue that the focus for Ogun State must shift from sectional agitation to a more inclusive and strategic statewide consensus.
A senior ally within Mr. Lemo’s circle, speaking on condition of anonymity due to political sensitivities, told Premier World News (PWN) that;
“Regional theatre and loud endorsements cannot match deep leadership credentials and statewide acceptability”.
“Yewa itself has a roster of qualified sons and daughters ready to lead, yet the current noise has failed to coalesce around a unified, credible choice”, the source added.
“Without substantive grassroots legitimacy, such endorsements do little to advance a real candidacy”.
Sources tracking the 2027 race identify leaders from Yewa/Awori and Ogun West with strong roots, records and community ties, including Hon. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, Hon. Biodun Akinlade, Hon. Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oloyede, Omooba Segun Adewale, Dr. Isiaq Adekunle Salako, Senator Tolu Adebiyi, Barr. Biyi Otegbeye and Elder Kola Bajomo.
They have deeper territorial and ancestral links than Senator Solomon Adeola, whose indigenous claim is debated and who is often seen as an outsider and interloper with limited local acceptance.
Many supporters of Mr. Lemo argue that Ogun’s three senatorial districts should coordinate rather than pursue unilateral claims.
One of Mr. Lemo’s closest allies emphasised:
“Ogun State cannot be shaped by noise. Once a credible candidate who commands respect across districts, as Mr. Tunde Lemo does, emerges, the path to leadership becomes far more attainable”.
As the 2027 race unfolds, political dynamics within the APC continue to evolve, with technocratic credibility and strategic alliances appearing to play an increasingly decisive role over traditional regional appeals and isolated endorsements.
With internal rebukes now public and misinformation rebutted by seasoned insiders, the contest for Ogun’s next governor is set to remain closely watched by stakeholders across the political spectrum, Premier World News (PWN) reports.
