The list of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates for the Ogun State Local Government election is out......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
Less than 10 out of the 20 outgoing party chairmen secured a return ticket.
Among those who retained the party’s mandate to vie for another term in office are Folashade Adeyemo (Odeda), Sikiru Adeyemo (Ewekoro), Adesina Ogunsola (Obafemi Owode), Foluso Badejo (Ijebu North East), Afolabi Odulate (Sagamu), and Bolaji Odusanya (Ijebu North).
Insiders largely attribute their return tickets to proven loyalty to Governor Dapo Abiodun.
“They all faced major opposition, every one of them, but the Governor came through for these ones when it mattered most, because they’ve proven, time and again, that they can be trusted. And the Governor doesn’t play when it comes to loyalty, especially with everything going on in the state,” say those in the know.
The Governor, now in the final stretch of his constitutionally allowed second term, is deeply involved in the battle to retain control of the party structure. He’s also trying to ensure he has a big say in who becomes his successor, despite facing formidable opposition from political structures far bigger than his.
Sources also disclosed that it helped the favored local government chairmen to have powerful people within Governor Abiodun’s inner circle pushing their interests.
“Yes, some were given a shot at a second term based on the influence of their sponsors, like in Imeko and Ipokia, and other areas in that Yewa axis. But ultimately, it all came down to the Governor’s final approval. Take the case of one candidate from the area where a frontline gubernatorial aspirant hails from. Despite the political stature of his backer, he was nearly removed from the list until the Governor was convinced to let him stay,” insiders say.
More revelations confirm just how crucial the Governor’s decisions were in resolving tough situations about candidate selection.
“The Odeda case was particularly intriguing. You had Senator Salisu Afolabi Shuaib, state party chairman Yemi Sanusi, and Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly Oludaisi Elemide all backing different candidates. Senator Shuaib alone supported the return of Folashade Adeyemo as council chairman. It was a tense, all-out face-off until D.A(Dapo Abiodun). stepped in and approved Adeyemo’s return, again citing loyalty,” the information reveals.
Insiders also pointed out that the final list, as expected, is filled with members of the Dapo Abiodun political group and strong allies, despite the various internal battles.
The names on the official APC chairmanship candidate list, tentatively scheduled for next year, include Lanre Oyegbola-Sodiro (Abeokuta North), Azeez Balogun (Abeokuta South), Sikiru Adesina (Ewekoro), Olalekan Kushimo (Ifo), Adesina Ogunsola (Obafemi Owode), Folashade Adeyemo (Odeda), Oluwadare Kehinde Hacco (Ijebu East), Bolaji Odusanya (Ijebu North), Foluso Badejo (Ijebu North East), Dare Alebiosu (Ijebu Ode), Jamiu Ashimi (Ikenne), Babatunde Diya (Odogbolu), Ganiyu Odunnaki (Ogun Waterside), Muyiwa Sodare (Remo North), Afolabi Odulate (Sagamu), Wasiu Lawal (Ado-Odo Ota), Theophilus Aremu Olorode (Imeko Afon), Avoseh Johnson (Ipokia), Akinbode Olusola (Yewa North), and Tunde Ogunsola (Yewa South).
The Governor’s camp remains firmly in charge of Ogun APC, despite strong opposition from powerful factions led by two-term former Governors, Senator Gbenga Daniel and former Senator Ibikunle Amosun.