GatewayofPolitics: Ogun Councillors Debunk 2027 Guber Endorsement Rumours,Pledge Total Loyalty to Abiodun, APC

Abuja, Dec. 14 (GatewayofPolitics) — In a swift rebuttal to swirling political rumours, the Ogun State Councillors’ Forum has firmly denied endorsing any aspirant for the 2027 governorship election, while recommitting its members to “unwavering, 100 per cent loyalty” to Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun (MFR, CON) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) hierarchy.

The denial, contained in a statement released Friday and corroborated by multiple outlets including Vanguard and Punch newspapers, was jointly signed by Forum Chairman, Hon. Fasheyi Akindele; Secretary, Hon. Rotimi Adeyemi; and Acting President of the Nigeria Councillors Forum, Hon. Muheeb Abiola Kehinde. It directly addressed a viral social media video that falsely portrayed the group as shifting allegiance.

The footage, which gained traction online since mid-December, stemmed from a brief, informal courtesy visit by Chief Kayode Odunaro—an aide to Senator Shuaib Olamilekan Solomon (Yayi, APC-Ogun East)—to the councillors’ hotel in Abuja. The forum was attending a National Legislative Capacity-Building Conference, fully sponsored by Governor Abiodun to enhance local government lawmakers’ skills in legislative oversight, budget management, and community development.

“No official meeting occurred, and no political endorsements were discussed or implied,” the statement clarified. “The interaction was personal and fleeting, misrepresented by mischief-makers to sow discord within our party ranks.” Sources familiar with the event, including conference organizers, confirmed the visit lasted under 15 minutes and involved no formal proceedings or group resolutions.

ADVERTISEMENT

This episode unfolds against a backdrop of intensifying jostling within Ogun APC for the 2027 ticket, with Senator Solomon (Yayi) positioning himself as a frontrunner through grassroots mobilization. Recent reports from Tribune Online highlight similar endorsement dramas, including claims of support from other local stakeholders, amid Abiodun’s consolidation of power post his 2023 re-election victory. The councillors’ forum, representing over 20 local government areas in Ogun State, wields influence as a key APC feeder structure at the grassroots.

Underscoring their fidelity to party discipline, the forum stressed alignment across all tiers—from President Bola Tinubu’s national leadership to Abiodun’s state executive and local chapters. “We have not, and will not, endorse any gubernatorial aspirant prematurely,” the statement affirmed. “Our loyalty lies with the APC, and we shall rally behind whoever emerges as the party’s standard-bearer through due process.”

During the Abuja sojourn, the councillors also made strategic courtesy calls on all Ogun State’s House of Representatives members, fostering synergy for accelerated development projects like road rehabilitation, healthcare upgrades, and youth empowerment initiatives under Abiodun’s “Isoya” agenda.

The forum implored the public, fellow party faithful, and APC leaders to ignore the “fabricated narrative,” vowing to prioritize good governance and unity. It wrapped up with profuse thanks to Governor Abiodun for the conference sponsorship, which equipped members with tools to better serve Ogun’s 57 local councils.

As 2027 polls loom, this clarification reinforces Abiodun’s grip on party machinery, potentially dousing early flames of factionalism in the Gateway State.