Ogun APC Reaffirms Yayi as 2027 Governorship Candidate, Rejects Hunye’s Claim

The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reaffirmed Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as its duly recognised candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

The clarification followed renewed claims by former federal lawmaker and APC governorship aspirant Abayomi Semako Hunye concerning the party’s governorship ticket.

In a statement signed by the Ogun State APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, the party said there was no ambiguity over its candidate for the 2027 election and urged members and the public to disregard any contrary claim.

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

Following his emergence, Adeola selected Mrs Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun as his running mate.

The Ogun APC said the names of Adeola and Adegunwa-Balogun had subsequently been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s governorship candidate and deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

“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,” the party said.

The party further dissociated itself from what it described as any contrary declaration by Hunye or any other individual purporting to be its candidate.

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

### Dispute over APC ticket

The latest clarification comes amid renewed controversy over the APC governorship ticket in Ogun State.

Hunye, who contested for the party’s governorship ticket, held a press briefing in Abeokuta on Saturday, August 22, where he rejected reports that he had withdrawn from the race.

He said he was challenging the process that produced Adeola as the APC candidate in court.

Hunye also unveiled Otunba Abayomi Odunowo from Ijebu-Ode as his running mate and said he would continue his political activities in accordance with the electoral laws.

However, the Ogun APC maintained that the party had already completed its nomination process and recognised Adeola as its candidate.

The party's latest statement was therefore aimed at putting its position on the record amid competing claims over the ticket.

### Hunye clarifies his position

Following reports of his Saturday declaration, Hunye's media office subsequently clarified that he had not actually declared himself the APC governorship candidate.

According to the clarification, Hunye's position is that the dispute over the process that produced Adeola remains before a court of competent jurisdiction.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Hon. Abayomi Hunye has never declared himself the APC Governorship Candidate,” the statement from his media office said.

“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 clarification means that while the Ogun APC has reaffirmed Adeola as its candidate, Hunye continues to challenge the process through which the ticket was awarded.

### Yayi's emergence

Adeola, a serving senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, emerged as the APC's preferred candidate earlier this year following the party's governorship primary.

His emergence came after extensive consultations and a consensus-building process within the Ogun APC.

Governor Dapo Abiodun had previously described the process as part of efforts to maintain unity within the party and ensure a smooth transition ahead of the 2027 election.

The emergence of Adeola also fulfilled the APC's political arrangement to zone the governorship ticket to Ogun West.

Adeola's selection of Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun as his running mate was subsequently ratified by the party.

The APC has now submitted both names to INEC as its candidates for the Ogun governorship election.

### APC draws line under controversy

With the latest statement, the Ogun APC has made clear that it considers Adeola its official candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

The party urged members, supporters and the general public to rely on official communications from the Ogun State APC and relevant electoral authorities rather than competing claims.

The development is likely to keep attention focused on the legal challenge surrounding the APC's nomination process as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 election.

For now, the official position of the Ogun APC remains that Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, is its governorship candidate, with Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun as his running mate.