Veteran broadcaster and public administrator, Mọdele Sarafa-Yusuf, has formally declared her intention to contest the 2027 Ogun State governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
In a statement addressed to party leaders and stakeholders on Thursday, the aspirant said her decision was guided by what she described as the need for “continuity without rupture,” stressing that the political cycle ahead requires caution, structure and measured leadership.
Sarafa-Yusuf presented herself as a bridge builder at a time of rising regional conversations, particularly agitation from Ogun West over zoning. According to her, the party must approach the issue with maturity and inclusion rather than emotion.
“Our task is not to choose sides emotionally; it is to prevent a scenario where zoning becomes a blunt instrument that destabilizes the entire state,” she said. “What Ogun needs is inclusion without escalation.”
She reaffirmed her cordial relationship with the incumbent governor, Dapo Abiodun, noting that her ambition is not designed to undermine existing structures but to preserve progress already recorded under the present administration.
On the prospect of emerging as Nigeria’s first elected female governor, Sarafa-Yusuf maintained that her aspiration is rooted in competence, not symbolism. “This is not about symbolism. It is about capacity and competence. The best man for the job is a woman,” she stated.
The governorship hopeful warned against what she called loud politics that often collapses after victory. She promised a consultative yet firm style of governance, drawing on her Master’s degree in Public Administration and her experience across the private and public sectors.
Describing herself as the safest option to manage the 2027 transition, she said stability within the party and investor confidence must be protected. She pledged to consolidate Ogun’s industrial growth, modernise infrastructure and expand road networks, with a focus on making the state attractive for living, working and investment.
Sarafa-Yusuf concluded by calling for a credible and orderly primary process within the APC. “Transitions succeed when fear is managed early. They fail when emotion is allowed to outrun structure,” she added, signalling readiness to intensify consultations with party stakeholders ahead of the primaries.
