By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Convener of the Ogun West Initiative, Olootu Bolaji Adeniji, has said the resignation of former Senator Iyabo Obasanjo from the party will not affect its unity, structure, or electoral strength ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State.
Adeniji stated this during a media briefing in Abeokuta, where he dismissed claims that the former senator’s exit could weaken the ruling party’s political standing.
He said, “While every individual has the constitutional right to political association, her departure does not diminish the strength, unity or electoral prospects of our party.”
Describing the APC as a strong political platform built on years of grassroots mobilisation and sacrifice by members across the state, Adeniji maintained that the emergence of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola as the party’s governorship candidate reflected broad consensus within the party.
According to him, the process that produced Adeola was one of the most peaceful and widely accepted governorship primaries in Ogun State’s political history.
“The consensus process that produced Adeola as the party’s standard-bearer was one of the earliest and most peaceful and rancour-free primaries witnessed in Nigeria,” he said.
Adeniji added that key political stakeholders across the APC structure—including former governors, former deputy governors, former speakers, lawmakers, and party leaders across all 20 local government areas—supported Adeola’s candidacy.
He noted that the primary election outcome, which he said produced 304,055 votes for Adeola against zero for his challenger, demonstrated overwhelming internal support for the candidate.
Adeniji, however, expressed surprise over continued objections from the senator’s sole challenger, Abayomi Hunye, insisting that allegations of manipulation were unfounded.
He maintained that the APC in Ogun State remained united and confident that any disputes arising from the primaries would be resolved through legal channels.
The APC chieftain also urged opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to focus on governance issues rather than what he described as repeated debates over Adeola’s identity.
He said residents of Ogun State were more concerned about economic and developmental challenges than political distractions.
Looking ahead to 2027, Adeniji called on voters to support Adeola, describing him as a tested politician with a record of public service.
He added that the APC candidate would soon unveil his policy agenda aimed at boosting economic growth, job creation, and improving residents’ welfare.
“As we move closer to 2027, let us focus on the collective progress of Ogun State,” he said, expressing confidence that Adeola possesses the capacity to lead the state into a new era of development.
