Ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State, a group of stakeholders from the Ogun West Senatorial District has rejected the governorship aspiration of Senator Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, insisting that only candidates with verifiable ancestral roots and a longstanding commitment to the development of the district should represent the zone.

Operating under the aegis of the Ogun West Concerned Stakeholders, the group, at a news conference in Ilaro on Friday, questioned Adeola’s indigene status and alleged that he had not played any significant role in the district’s political struggle in previous election cycles.

The stakeholders also accused the senator of working against Ogun West’s governorship aspirations in the 2019 and 2023 elections, contrary to his current claim of belonging to the district.

The group, which claimed to have the support of more than 5,000 members across Ogun West, declared its backing for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship hopeful, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, describing him as a politician whose ancestry and political identity are firmly rooted in Ogun State.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr. Hakeem Adetunji said their opposition to Adeola’s governorship ambition was based on what he described as the senator’s lack of historical ties to Ogun West and his alleged role in frustrating previous efforts to produce a governor from the district.

“We do not support Senator Olamilekan Yayi for very clear reasons,” Adetunji said.

“In 2011, when the late Gen. Adetunji Olurin contested for governor, we did not see Senator Yayi in our political history or struggle. The same was the case in 2015 when Gboyega Isiaka contested.

“In 2019, he worked against the success of Ogun West. He stood against this land he now claims as his own. In 2023, when Biyi Otegbeye emerged as the sole governorship candidate from Ogun West, Senator Yayi again worked against that aspiration.”

According to him, the senator’s governorship ambition would deny what he described as the “true sons of the soil” the opportunity to lead the state.
He said the group resolved to support Adebutu because of his longstanding relationship with Ogun State and his identification with the people.

Also speaking, another stakeholder, Adeshola Hakeem, questioned Adeola’s claim of belonging to Ogun West, alleging that the senator only identified with the district during election periods.

“I don’t believe somebody can suddenly come around after a few years and claim to be from here. We have not seen the antecedents, family history or sustained contributions to the development of Ogun West,” he said.

Similarly, a community leader and Ward 1 member in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area, Mrs. Olabisi Ogundare, endorsed Adebutu’s governorship aspiration, saying she could not identify Adeola as someone known to the community.

“This person they say is from Ogun West, I don’t know him because we did not know him before. He may claim to be an indigene, but we know Ladi Adebutu,” she said.

The stakeholders maintained that the 2027 governorship race should be determined by candidates’ historical ties to Ogun West, their contributions to the district and their commitment to its development, rather than political convenience.

Efforts to obtain Senator Adeola’s reaction to the allegations were initially unsuccessful.

However, when contacted, his media aide, Mr. Kayode Odunaro, said the issue had already been resolved and declined further comment.