The political contest ahead of the 2027 Ogun State governorship election has intensified following fresh comments by former Ijebu East Local Government Chairman, Wale Adedayo, who predicted a major political upset in the state.
Adedayo described the development as a potential political “earthquake,” claiming that the ruling All Progressives Congress would lose the governorship to the Peoples Democratic Party in 2027.
He said the PDP candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, remained the “candidate to beat,” alleging that the opposition was steadily gaining momentum across the state.
According to him, the APC has become disconnected from the grassroots and is struggling to retain the level of support it previously enjoyed across Ogun State.
Adedayo questions Yayi’s ancestry
A major aspect of Adedayo’s comments was his challenge to the identity and ancestry of the APC governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.
Adedayo alleged that Adeola was originally known as Sulaimon Ogunleye and claimed that he hailed from Ekiti State.
He questioned the senator’s claim to Ogun State ancestry and alleged that attempts to establish indigene status through financial or political influence amounted to what he described as fraudulent conduct.
The allegations are claims made by Adedayo and have not been independently established.
Adeola emerged as the APC consensus candidate following political consultations and stakeholder alignments within the party.
‘APC will suffer political earthquake’
Adedayo predicted a major electoral upset in Ogun State, arguing that the dynamics of the 2027 governorship election would be different from the federal contest.
He maintained that although President Bola Tinubu could continue to enjoy significant support at the federal level, the situation at the state level could produce a different outcome.
According to him, the APC has lost touch with voters and grassroots stakeholders across the state’s 20 local government areas.
He consequently predicted that the PDP would benefit from what he described as growing dissatisfaction with the ruling party.
Adebutu ‘candidate to beat’
The former council chairman also dismissed suggestions that the 2027 contest would necessarily be a close race, insisting that Adebutu remained the opposition candidate to beat.
Adedayo claimed that political stakeholders across the state were already quietly realigning in favour of the PDP candidate.
He said the ongoing political manoeuvring was an indication that the 2027 election could produce a significant shift in political power in the Gateway State.
APC faces internal challenges
Adeola’s emergence as the APC consensus candidate followed months of political consultations and alignment among party stakeholders.
However, the process has also generated opposition from some party members and aspirants, with legal challenges emerging around the conduct and outcome of the party’s internal processes.
Some of the legal actions have subsequently witnessed developments, including notices of discontinuance filed by litigants.
The developments have continued to fuel debate over the strength of Adeola’s candidacy and the level of unity within the ruling party ahead of the 2027 election.
With political actors already positioning themselves and opposition parties intensifying their mobilisation, the Ogun governorship race is shaping up as one of the major political battles to watch in the South-West.
Adedayo’s latest comments are expected to further intensify the political debate as the major parties prepare for what could be a fiercely contested election.
