Ogun APC moves for unity as Yayi reaches out to aggrieved aspirants

By Adejoke Adeleye, Ogun

Following his emergence as the consensus governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has moved to calm tensions within the party, extending an olive branch to aggrieved aspirants and party stakeholders in a bid to strengthen unity ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

His emergence through the party’s collegiate consensus arrangement brought together key APC powerbrokers in the state, including Governor Dapo Abiodun and former governors Olusegun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun.

However, the process reportedly generated discontent in some camps, including supporters of Hon. Abayomi Hunye, who expressed reservations over the outcome of the primary arrangement.

Addressing journalists and party faithful during the APC governorship primary at his polling unit in Ward 1, Pahayi, Ilaro, in Yewa South Local Government Area, Adeola insisted that there were no serious divisions within the party, stressing that all aspirants had collectively endorsed his candidacy during a strategic meeting held at the APC Secretariat in Abeokuta.

According to him, the public endorsement by Governor Abiodun before party leaders and aspirants symbolised broad acceptance of his candidature and reflected confidence in his ability to fly the party’s flag successfully.

“There is no aggrieved aspirant because, after the strategic meeting at the party secretariat in Abeokuta attended by former governors, party leaders and all aspirants, Governor Dapo Abiodun openly raised my hand in endorsement. That signified collective acceptance of my candidacy and confidence that I will represent the party well,” he said.

The senator disclosed that he had already commenced consultations and reconciliation meetings with other aspirants to foster cohesion within the party.

“Thereafter, I visited them to express appreciation and we discussed the way forward. I want to say clearly that I am ready to work with everyone because Ogun State belongs to all of us,” Adeola stated.

He maintained that the success of the APC and the actualisation of the Federal Government’s “Renewed Hope” agenda in Ogun State could only be achieved through unity and collaboration among party members.

“Your ideas, supporters and visions remain important to our collective success. We cannot afford division at a time like this,” he added.

Adeola also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Abiodun for what he described as their stabilising leadership and commitment to strengthening the APC in Ogun State.

The APC candidate further revealed that his immediate focus would be on healing cracks within the party structure across the three senatorial districts of the state.

“We are not leaving anyone behind. In the coming days, my team will begin formal reconciliation efforts with every aggrieved camp. We must convert our differences into strength because a united APC will remain unstoppable in Ogun State,” he said.