“From Patrons to Ward Levels”: Yayi Assembles Ogun APC’s Most Influential Figures for 2027 Battle

ABEOKUTA — The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has unveiled the party’s official 74-man campaign council structure for the 2027 governorship election, assembling the party’s most influential figures across the state’s three senatorial districts.

Under the organisational framework, sitting Governor Dapo Abiodun serves as Chairman of the Campaign Council, while Senator Adeola acts as Co-Chairman.

Former Governor Chief Olusegun Osoba is listed as Grand Patron, with former Governors Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun designated as Deputy Grand Patrons.

Senator Lekan Mustapha takes on the role of Director-General of the Campaign, supported by the state’s sitting Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, and Mrs. Kudirat Abiodun Balogun (Yayi’s running mate) as Deputy Chairmen.

The council incorporates specialised committees including Strategy, Media, Security, Finance, Reconciliation, and Youth & Digital Innovation, designed to drive a coordinated campaign machinery down to the ward and unit levels across Ogun East, Central, and West.

A Historic Shift in Ogun Politics

Adeola emerged as the APC consensus governorship candidate in April 2026, with Abiodun, Osoba, Amosun and Daniel backing the move.

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The development marked a historic shift in Ogun politics, as the West Senatorial District, long regarded as a key stakeholder yet historically underrepresented in the governorship, produced a candidate.

The 74-man campaign council is expected to formally kick-start the party’s campaign activities ahead of the February 6, 2027 governorship election.

The Parallel Campaign Crisis

The unveiling of the campaign council comes amid a deepening internal crisis within the Ogun APC.

Reports indicate that two candidates are now laying claim to the same governorship ticket and holding parallel campaigns.

Abayomi Semako Hunye, a former governorship aspirant, has launched a parallel campaign while challenging the emergence of Senator Adeola as the party’s candidate.

The party has since reaffirmed Adeola as its duly nominated governorship candidate and has formally disowned Hunye’s claims.

Hunye has warned that the political crisis over the party’s 2027 governorship ticket could trigger a more serious confrontation in Ogun than the recently concluded Osun State governorship election.

He has also dragged the party and Yayi to court to nullify the primary election.

The National Secretariat of the APC has warned the public against dealing with Hunye over claims that he is the party’s governorship candidate, reaffirming Yayi as the duly nominated and elected candidate.

Whether the party can resolve its internal crisis and present a united front will be a key determinant of its electoral fortunes.

The 74-man campaign council, with its array of heavyweights, represents an attempt to project unity and organisational strength.