The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, on Monday, adopted the senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Solomon Adeola, popularly called Yayi, as its governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The decision to field the lawmaker as the party’s governorship candidate was announced at a state strategic caucus meeting presided over by the state chairman of the party, Yemi Sanusi, and held at the party secretariat in Abeokuta.

The meeting was attended by Governor Dapo Abiodun, former governors Chief Olusegun Osoba, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and Gbenga Daniel, despite his reported suspension by the party since August last year.

Others present included Senator Iyabo Obasanjo; Gboyega Isiaka, who represents Imeko/Afon Federal Constituency and is also a governorship aspirant; and other serving and former members of the state House of Assembly and National Assembly.

Abiodun, at the event, announced Adeola as the party’s consensus governorship candidate and urged other aspirants to rally round him, stressing the need for party unity over personal interests.

The announcement was followed by jubilation among party members, who chanted, “Yayi ni jo, Yayi ni jare.”

In his acceptance speech, Adeola thanked party members for the confidence reposed in him, pledging not to disappoint the party.

He said, “Now is all the sacrifices that my brothers have put together to ensure this day comes to pass.

I believe in oneness and the unity of our dear state and Ogun West by extension.

“I know the vision for this state. I know how passionate and how central this state is to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“As far as maintaining our status aside from being the fastest-growing economy in Nigeria, all efforts that have been put in place to ensure that we reposition this state and take our pride of place in the comity of states in this country are well recognised.

“Your Excellency, my dear leaders who are here, I want to assure you that I will not let you down.

“I promise to keep the flag flying. I promise to retain and maintain the unity, peace, and progress that have taken place in Ogun State for the last three years and beyond. I can assure you I will not derail.

“I will not derail the ship I am about to take over. I will make sure that it does not derail, and by the special grace of God, I will do my best, my utmost best, to keep every member of our great party together, to keep the state together, and to ensure that irrespective of our political alignment, we are one indivisible family.”

Yayi added, “Going forward from today, Your Excellency and all the leaders of the party, I want to assure you that a new Ogun State is born, and everything that needs to be done to keep us together, to keep us as one indivisible entity, so that we can take Ogun State to the promised land and to the next level we all desire, will be done.”

The state chairman, Yemi Sanusi, said the meeting was convened to preserve party unity before, during, and after the primaries.

He stressed the importance of rancour-free primaries, noting that the caucus meeting was aimed at carrying all stakeholders along and ensuring the party remained united ahead of the 2027 elections.

It was reported on March 24, 2026, that the APC is moving toward a consensus arrangement to settle on the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Lagos State.

The report added that party stakeholders also favoured the Yayi for Ogun State, and the senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Sharafadeen Alli, for Oyo State.

The purported decisions, according to that report, emerged from a meeting of APC stakeholders from the three states with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos during the Sallah holiday.

Following the consensus, Iyabo Obasanjo, on Monday, suspended her governorship ambition.

In a statement she signed and made available to journalists, the daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo stated that she had decided to put her ambition on hold following the party’s pick of Yayi as consensus candidate.

The former lawmaker representing Ogun Central between 2007 and 2011 congratulated Yayi and wished him well in his future endeavours.

Obasanjo equally thanked the party leaders and all her supporters across the state, praising them for their unwavering steadfastness and unprecedented support while her consultation across the state lasted.

She stated that “At the Ogun APC caucus meeting held today, April 13, 2026, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) was announced as the consensus candidate of our party for the 2027 gubernatorial election.

“I congratulate him and wish him every success. I also thank the state and national leaders of our great party for the opportunity to participate in the nomination process.

“Based on these developments, I have decided to suspend my gubernatorial aspiration.

“To my supporters across Ogun State, I am deeply grateful for your calm, steadfast support and unwavering trust throughout this journey. Together, we move forward with patience, strength and hope.”

I joined active politics in 2010, having closely followed Nigeria’s political trajectory from the run-up to the June 12, 1993, presidential election through its unfortunate annulment, which truncated the Third Republic.

Until then, what I knew as government since birth was military rule. Witnessing the hope and excitement on the faces of my parents and other adults at the time struck a deep chord in me. The enthusiasm to follow the struggle for the de-annulment of the elections deepened my affinity with politics, triggering my interest in newspapers and magazines of that era, like Concord newspapers, Tell magazine, The News, amongst others.

I recall reading about the exploits and sacrifices of our President, the then Sen. Bola Tinubu, Pa Anthony Enahoro, Dan Suleiman, my boss, Dele Alake, and a host of others who fought tooth and nail in galvanizing the pro-democracy movement – the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which contributed significantly to the restoration of democracy in 1999.

Hence, when I felt the time was ripe to join active politics, after my national youth service, I made a deliberate decision to join Asiwaju Tinubu’s political family, the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), even though it was in opposition at the time.

I was motivated by the progressive bent of the party, coupled with the fact that its leading lights stood to be counted in the June 12 struggle when lily-livered politicians chickened out, while others bowed to the allure of filthy lucre, to the detriment of the nation. The party later became one of the legacy parties that formed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

With over a decade of hands-on experience spanning both the National Assembly and the Executive—working with a Member of the House of Representatives and two ministers—alongside a robust network at the Federal level and valuable institutional memory, I believe the time has come to answer the call of my people.

Accordingly, I hereby formally declare my aspiration to contest for the House of Representatives, to represent the good people of Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II, Lagos, under the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Across my journey in both public and private sectors, three core values have defined me—Service, Excellence, and Trust (SET). These principles form the theme of my campaign, aptly tagged the SET Campaign, derived from the acronym of my name, Segun Tomori.

Our manifesto is anchored on the Eight (8) Pillars of SET, includes: Community health Outreach; Support for Women and Vulnerable Families; Generation Next – Youth & Sports Talent Development; Education & Schools Intervention Programme; Light Up Oshodi-Isolo constituency II, amongst other people-centered initiatives.

There is much work to be done through purposeful legislation—not only to improve the welfare of our constituents but also the lives of the average Nigerian, even as it contributes meaningfully to national development.

I bring to this race the dynamism of youth, fresh ideas, and a proven ability to build consensus and deliver results, in complement to the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II is SET for better representation.

Think Progress. Think SET!!

Segun Tomori, FSCA, anipr

House of Representatives Aspirant, Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II, Lagos/ Immediate past Special Assistant on Media to the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development

Nafiu Bala, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led a group of his supporters to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Thursday.

Bala is laying claim to the leadership of the ADC and has been going against the David Mark-led group in court.

His protest comes a day after the Mark faction staged a similar march to the INEC office.

During today’s demonstration, Bala asked INEC to recognise him as the authentic chairman of the ADC, citing a court of appeal ruling.

He also said the Mark group is attempting to seize control of the party unlawfully.

On April 1, INEC withdrew its recognition of the leadership of the ADC, citing a court directive.

The electoral umpire also said it would not monitor congresses and conventions organised by any leadership of the party until a court of competent jurisdiction rules otherwise.

The Mark faction, which has chieftains like Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi and Rabiu Kwankwaso within its ranks, has repeatedly labelled INEC “partisan” in the wake of its stance, while accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to foist a one-party system on the country.

The APC and presidency have baulked at the allegation, telling the ADC that its “woes” are self-inflicted.

‘FORGED SIGNATURES’

Speaking during the protest at the INEC headquarters, Bala said the Mark-led group has engaged in irregular processes, which include the “unauthorised transfer of party leadership” and deploying “forged signatures” to legitimise its position.

“The incident involving the unauthorised transfer of power to David Mark and his associates raises significant concerns regarding the integrity of governance and the rule of law,” he said.

“The intruders, by rudely forging the signatures of genuine members and leaders of the ADC, not only undermined the democratic process but also violated the trust vested in these representatives by their constituents.

“Such actions reflect a troubling trend in which illegitimate means are employed to achieve political ends, thereby eroding public confidence in political institutions.

“The implications of this deceit extend beyond the immediate context, as they can foster a culture of impunity and disillusionment among the electorate.”

He implored relevant authorities to investigate the allegations and ensure accountability, saying the multi-factional leadership crisis rocking the ADC began after the resignation of Ralph Nwosu as chairman.

Bala asked INEC to update its official records to reflect his position as national chairman, reiterating that doing so would align with the court’s ruling and help restore stability within the party.