Ogun Guber Race: Another Iperu Indigene Cannot Succeed Abiodun After His Eight-year Tenure- Oladele
A Chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC), Hon. Kayode Oladele has said that it would be impossible to elect another indigene of Iperu-Remo to succeed the current Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun. Oladele, a former Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission while reacting to the decision of Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party to field Oladipupo Adebutu as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election, said the party was insensitive. Adebutu is an indigene of Iperu-Remo, the same hometown as Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of the State.
In a statement made available to nigerianecho.com.ng, the former Chairman of the House of Representative on Financial Crimes said that presenting Adebutu as gubernatorial candidate by PDP to Ogun voters another indigene of Iperu immediately after the completion of Abiodun’s eight-year tenure is taking the people for granted.
“Another Iperu man cannot succeed an Iperu man. Ogun people believe in fairness, equity and justice. After eight years of Governor Dapo Abiodun, who is from Iperu, no serious political party that truly understands the mood of the people would present another indigene of the same town as its governorship candidate”, Oladele noted.
He said the PDP’s decision to field another Iperu man is a political miscalculation capable of further diminishing the party’s chances in the 2027 governorship election. He also accused the opposition party of ignoring the long-standing agitation by the people of Ogun West Senatorial District to produce the state’s governor.
According to him, Ogun West remains the only senatorial district that has not produced a democratically elected governor since the creation of Ogun State.
He said the emergence of the APC governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, presented an opportunity to address what he described as a long-standing political imbalance.
Oladele said, “Though Senator Adeola’s candidature is essentially about competence and popularity, it also represents an opportunity for Ogun State to correct a long-standing political imbalance.
“Ogun West has remained the only senatorial district that has not produced a governor in the history of the state. Supporting his aspiration is therefore consistent with the principles of fairness, equity and inclusive governance.”
He added that Adeola enjoyed widespread acceptance across the three senatorial districts because of his performance and empowerment programmes.
“Apart from being the most qualified and unarguably the most popular candidate in the race, Senator Adeola Yayi enjoys massive support across the three senatorial districts because of his impressive record of performance, people-oriented projects and unprecedented empowerment programmes.
His nomination reflects both merit and the legitimate yearning of Ogun West for equitable participation in the leadership of the state,” he said.
Oladele expressed confidence that the APC would retain power in the state and urged party members to intensify grassroots mobilization ahead of the election.
He also appealed to residents to support the second-term administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying continuity at both the federal and state levels would accelerate development.