The governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State on Thursday ended peacefully with the emergence of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
The exercise, conducted across the 20 local government areas of the state, recorded massive participation by party members and was largely devoid of violence and disruptions.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, who spoke after participating in the primary election at Ward 3, Iperu 1, in Ikenne Local Government Area, said the APC had strengthened internal democracy through extensive consultations and consensus-building among party stakeholders.
Abiodun disclosed that over 700 aspirants had initially shown interest in contesting for various elective positions under the platform of the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the party adopted a rigorous screening process to identify credible candidates while ensuring that aggrieved aspirants were politically accommodated.
“In Ogun State, we have done things differently. We ensured extensive consultations with the leadership of our party across the state constituencies and local governments to build consensus around candidates, even while acknowledging that we have many brilliant and eminent party members capable of occupying those positions,” the governor said.
“So, we undertook a rigorous exercise to screen over 700 aspirants and engage with their leaders. The idea was to identify the best candidates for each election. Having done that, we reached out to those who were not eventually selected and ensured they were accommodated politically.”
Abiodun stated that the process was designed to ensure inclusiveness and party unity, stressing that no aspirant was forced to withdraw from the race.
“The essence is to ensure that nobody feels defeated. There is no winner and no vanquished. Everyone is given a sense of belonging, and that is reflected in the fact that in many of our elections, we now have consensus candidates because others voluntarily accepted the decisions and rallied round the chosen aspirants,” he added.
The governor noted that the consensus-building approach had reduced bitterness and tension within the party while positioning the APC strongly ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu and the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, for providing leadership that had strengthened the ruling party across the country.
Abiodun described the direct primary mode adopted by the party as democratic and inclusive, saying it allowed party members at the ward level to openly participate in the process through the queue system.
“I was a beneficiary of direct primaries in 2019, and I believe it always reflects the wishes and aspirations of the people,” he said.
The governor applauded party members and aspirants for their peaceful conduct throughout the exercise, noting that the APC in Ogun State had grown stronger and more united.
“This is how we want our party to be defined in Ogun State — a state where peace reigns, where we know how to manage ourselves with selflessness. Ogun remains the birthplace of democracy in Nigeria, and we are sustaining that legacy,” he stated.
Announcing the result for Ward 3, Iperu 1, the Returning Officer for the governorship primary election in Ikenne Local Government Area, Dr. Femi Akinbile, said the ward recorded 837 registered members, out of which 832 were accredited for the exercise.
Akinbile disclosed that Adeola polled 829 votes, while no other aspirant contested the governorship primary in the ward.
