Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ogun State chapter, has endorsed President Bola Tinubu for re-election in 2027 and Senator Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, for the Ogun State governorship election.

The endorsement was announced by the chapter’s president, Eze Stephen Okorie, during a courtesy visit to Adeola over the weekend, according to a statement issued on Monday.

Okorie, who led a five-member delegation, said the group would confer the chieftaincy title of Dike Eji Eje Mba on the senator at a ceremony scheduled to hold in Abeokuta at the end of October.

He said the event would also provide an opportunity for the group to publicly endorse Adeola and declare its support for candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State.

Okorie disclosed that he had installed five campaign billboards for Tinubu and Adeola across the state and produced campaign materials in support of the senator’s governorship ambition.

Explaining the endorsement, he said his 36 years of residence in Ogun State had enabled him to observe its political and developmental trajectory.

He attributed the group’s decision to what he described as Adeola’s contributions to the state, particularly in market infrastructure and road construction to promote trade and commerce.

In his response, Adeola expressed appreciation for the endorsement, recalling that members of the Igbo community had also supported his political career while he was in Lagos.

He said the Eze Ndi Igbo in Lagos had previously conferred on him the title of Dike Di Ora Nma of Lagos State.

Adeola said his political philosophy was based on inclusion and the delivery of good governance, irrespective of ethnic background.

“My brand of politics is politics of inclusion and delivery of good governance for all,” he said, adding that infrastructure projects, including roads, schools and hospitals, were intended to benefit all residents.

He also said law-abiding Nigerians were welcome to conduct business and pursue their aspirations in Ogun State.

Those present during the visit included the APC deputy governorship candidate in Ogun State, Alhaja Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun; Minister of State for Health and Social Services, Dr Kunle Salako; Ogun State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Laolu Olabimtan; and the party’s Ogun West senatorial candidate, Jimoh Ojugbele, among other APC candidates.