A governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Sarafa Tunji Isola, has urged his supporters to remain calm, steadfast and confident, while he embarks on wide consultations over the announcement of Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the state.

Isola, a former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), in a statement yesterday, said he was actively engaging in broad and meaningful consultations with critical stakeholders and respected voices across the political and social landscape of the state.

He noted that as a democrat and one who is deeply committed to the values of inclusiveness, consultation, and responsible leadership, consultations are essential to ensuring that every decision taken is not only strategic, but also reflective of the collective interest, aspirations, and stability of our people.

HOWEVER, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Tunde Lemo, has stepped back from his governorship ambition in Ogun State, throwing his weight behind Adeola.

Lemo, who announced in a statement yesterday in Abeokuta, said that his decision came after “deep reflection and wide consultations” with party leaders and stakeholders across the state.
The former banker described it as a calculated realignment in the broader interest of the party and the state.

“This is not a retreat from service. It is a deliberate, strategic alignment for the greater good,” he said.

Lemo expressed confidence in the APC leadership’s judgment, noting that party elders believe Adeola has the capacity to consolidate the gains of the current administration under Governor Dapo Abiodun and position Ogun State as Nigeria’s industrial and innovation hub.

He added that the consensus arrangement was also designed to foster unity across the state’s three senatorial zones, strengthening the party’s overall electoral prospects.

He, therefore, called on his supporters and political structures spread across the state’s 20 local councils to mobilise fully behind Adeola’s campaign, pledging to deploy his background in finance, enterprise, and public policy to support
the party’s victory and effective governance.

Lemo thanked the APC national and state leadership, traditional rulers, and the people of Ogun State for their continued confidence in him, while urging all stakeholders to keep their eyes on the bigger prize.

“The contest ahead is not about individuals. It is about Ogun’s future. Let us be on the right side of history, united, focused, and victorious,” he further said.