Ogun APC reaffirms Yayi as gov candidate

Ogun State Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Chief Yemi Sanusi

The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has reaffirmed Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as its governorship candidate for the 2027 general election.

The party made the clarification in a statement signed by its state chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, on Sunday, following claims by Abayomi Hunye that he is the APC governorship candidate for the election.

The party described the claim as false and urged its members, supporters and the general public to disregard it.

This comes as a chieftain of the party and former federal lawmaker in Ogun State, Kayode Oladele, has criticised Hunye over his continued pursuit of the 2027 governorship ticket and the recent unveiling of a running mate.

Oladele also, in a statement on Sunday, described Hunye’s actions as an “exercise in futility,” arguing that the APC had concluded its nomination process and forwarded Adeola’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Hunye, at a press briefing in Abeokuta on Saturday, dismissed reports that he had withdrawn from the race, saying he was already in court challenging the process that produced Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as the APC governorship candidate.

He also unveiled Otunba Abayomi Odunowo from Ijebu-Ode as his running mate and said he would continue his campaign across the state in accordance with electoral laws.

The ruling party, however, in a statement on Sunday, said, “For the avoidance of doubt, the Ogun State APC wishes to state clearly that Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, is the duly recognised governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State for the 2027 election.”

According to the party, Adeola emerged from its governorship primary with 304,055 votes out of the 305,287 accredited voters who participated in the exercise.

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Following his emergence, the senator picked Mrs Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun as his running mate.

The APC said the names of Adeola and Adegunwa-Balogun had subsequently been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission as its governorship candidate and running mate for the 2027 election.

The party therefore dissociated itself from Hunye’s claim and any other declaration purporting to present another person as its governorship candidate.

“The Ogun State APC therefore dissociates itself from any contrary claim or declaration by Abayomi Semako Hunye or any other individual purporting to be the party’s governorship candidate,” it stated.

The party urged the public to rely on official communications from the Ogun APC and relevant electoral authorities on the issue.

“Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (YAYI) is the APC candidate for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election,” the statement added.

Hunye, however, according to a statement from his media office, denied declaring himself as the governorship candidate of the party and stated that he was only stating the legal position on the party’s governorship candidate for the state

“For the avoidance of doubt, Hon. Abayomi Hunye has never declared himself the APC Governorship Candidate.

“His position has consistently been clear: the matter remains before a court of competent jurisdiction, and the issues surrounding the emergence of the party’s governorship candidate are still subject to judicial determination,” the statement read.