Senator Solomon Adeola has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus candidate for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election. The Yayi Progressives Movement (YPM) and the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) have both commended President Bola Tinubu and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun for facilitating the consensus. YPM convener Armstrong 'Tope Akintunde, in a statement issued Tuesday by the group's State Director of Media and Publicity, Oluseun Joshua, described Adeola's emergence as expected due to his service record in Ogun West Senatorial District. Akintunde credited Tinubu for his "fatherly role" and Abiodun for backing Adeola as his successor. He noted that Ogun West has never produced a governor since the state's creation, framing the decision as a move toward inclusiveness. Akintunde linked the development to the "Lagos model" of sustained governance. ACOMORAN, in a separate statement by its state chairman, Comrade Kayode Showunmi, praised the APC's consensus approach as a sign of unity and strategic leadership. The group described Adeola as well-deserving, citing his legislative experience, grassroots ties, and commitment to development. Both groups urged party members and citizens to support the consensus and maintain unity ahead of the election.
The swift endorsement of Senator Solomon Adeola as APC's 2027 consensus candidate reveals less about democratic process and more about the consolidation of political godfatherism under the guise of unity. Governor Dapo Abiodun's role in anointing a successor, with President Tinubu's visible backing, underscores a top-down selection that bypasses internal primaries and grassroots participation. This is not an exception but a replication of a familiar script where power transitions are managed by a select few, not party structures.
The references to the "Lagos model" and historical marginalisation of Ogun West are politically strategic, not altruistic. While Akintunde highlights Ogun West's lack of a governor since state creation, the reality is that such symbolic concessions often serve to legitimise elite bargains rather than rectify structural imbalances. The praise for consensus from groups like ACOMORAN, an association with significant street-level influence, suggests that political capital is being mobilised early, not just for legitimacy but for control. These endorsements are not spontaneous; they are part of an ecosystem where loyalty is rewarded with visibility.
For ordinary voters in Ogun, especially in Ogun West, this means the illusion of inclusion without the substance of choice. If the 2027 race is pre-determined, the electorate becomes an afterthought. The deeper implication is the erosion of competitive politics within the APC, reducing elections to coronations. This pattern, repeated across states, signals a broader drift toward dynastic politics in Nigeria's ruling party.
💡 NaijaBuzz is a news aggregator. This content is curated and editorially enhanced from third-party sources. The NaijaBuzz Take represents editorial opinion and analysis, not established fact.
