The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reaffirmed Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as its governorship candidate for the 2027 general election, dismissing claims by former federal lawmaker Abayomi Hunye that he remained in the race for the party’s ticket.
The clarification was contained in a statement signed by the state APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, on Sunday, following Hunye’s declaration that he was challenging the process that produced Adeola as the party’s candidate.
The APC described Hunye’s claim as false and urged members, supporters and the general public to disregard any declaration presenting another person as its candidate for the 2027 Ogun governorship election.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ogun State APC wishes to state clearly that Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, is the duly recognised governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State for the 2027 election,” the party said.
According to the APC, Adeola emerged from the party’s governorship primary with 304,055 votes out of 305,287 accredited voters who participated in the exercise.
The party said Adeola subsequently selected Mrs. Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun as his running mate, adding that their names had been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the APC’s governorship candidate and running mate for the election.
The party’s position followed a press briefing by Hunye in Abeokuta on Saturday, during which he dismissed reports that he had withdrawn from the governorship contest.
Hunye said he was already in court challenging the process that produced Adeola as the APC candidate. He also unveiled Otunba Abayomi Odunowo from Ijebu-Ode as his running mate and said he would continue his campaign across the state in accordance with electoral laws.
However, APC chieftain and former federal lawmaker in Ogun State, Kayode Oladele, criticised Hunye’s continued pursuit of the governorship ticket and the unveiling of a running mate.
Oladele, in a statement on Sunday, described Hunye’s actions as an “exercise in futility,” arguing that the party had concluded its nomination process and forwarded Adeola’s name to INEC.
The Ogun APC also dissociated itself from Hunye’s declaration and any other claim purporting to present another person as its governorship candidate.
“The Ogun State APC therefore dissociates itself from any contrary claim or declaration by Abayomi Semako Hunye or any other individual purporting to be the party’s governorship candidate,” the party stated.
The party urged members of the public to rely on official communications from the Ogun APC and relevant electoral authorities concerning the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.
Hunye, however, through a statement issued by his media office, denied declaring himself the APC governorship candidate.
The statement said Hunye had consistently maintained that the matter was before a court of competent jurisdiction and that the issues surrounding the emergence of the party’s candidate remained subject to judicial determination.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Hon. Abayomi Hunye has never declared himself the APC Governorship Candidate,” the statement said.
It added that Hunye’s position was that “the matter remains before a court of competent jurisdiction” and that the issues surrounding the emergence of the party’s governorship candidate were still subject to judicial determination.
The conflicting positions leave the dispute over the APC’s 2027 Ogun governorship ticket before the relevant judicial and electoral processes, while the state chapter maintains that Adeola is its recognised candidate.
