Daud Olatunji
Nine transport unions in Ogun State have endorsed the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, for the 2027 governorship election.
The unions, under the aegis of the Transport Unions Alliance for Yayi, announced their endorsement on Thursday during a rally held at the Ake Palace Pavilion, Abeokuta.
The participating unions are the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, National Union of Road Transport Workers, Ogun State Park Management Services Limited, Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria, Articulated Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria, Riders and Owners of Motorcycle Organisation, Tricycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria, Three Wheelers Operators and Riders Association, and Riders and Owners of Tricycle Organisation.
The development brings a major bloc of organised transport operators into the unfolding political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Chairman of the planning committee and State Secretary of RTEAN, Aare Tiwalade Akingbade, described the endorsement as unprecedented, saying it was the first time, according to him, that the transport unions in the state had collectively endorsed a governorship candidate.
Akingbade said the decision was based on what the unions described as Adeola’s antecedents and capacity, rather than ethnic, sectional or geographical considerations.
He said, “This is historical because this is the first time we are coming out to endorse a governorship candidate.”
Explaining the basis for the endorsement, Akingbade told Adeola, “We are doing this not because we are only a son of a certain part of Ogun State, not because you come from a certain section that has been marginalised for the past 50 years.
“We are doing this because you are capable and we have seen antecedent.”
He said the theme of the event, “Consolidation of Proven Capacity and Competence,” reflected the unions’ position on the APC candidate.
According to him, the nine union chairmen had signed the endorsement document presented to Adeola.
“On behalf of all the transport unions in the state, we are endorsing you today. And all the nine transport union chairmen in the state have appended their signatures,” he said.
Responding, Adeola promised that his administration, if elected, would consolidate what he described as the development trajectory of the state and pursue further growth.
He said Ogun residents should expect what he described as the biggest development in the history of the state.
“I can tell you that the people of Ogun State are about to witness the biggest development in the history of this state,” Adeola said.
The APC candidate also said he would not allow what he described as personal interests to override the development of Ogun State.
“We will continue to grow higher and higher and higher and higher. We can never relinquish this state to mediocre, to power grabbers, to people who only want to satisfy their personal gain. Ogun State deserves better,” he said.
Adeola thanked the transport unions for their endorsement, describing their support as an indication of their desire for continuity in the state.
Also speaking, Governor Dapo Abiodun described the endorsement as “truly unprecedented and historic”, saying the gathering demonstrated unity among the various transport unions.
Abiodun said the development represented what he described as stability and continuity in Ogun State.
“Today, we are standing here hand in hand in unity. We are all here. All the transport unions collectively and individually are here,” the governor said.
He added, “Something unprecedented in the 50-year history of this beloved state. Stability.
“This speaks to continuity. This speaks to socio-economic development. This speaks to investor confidence because investors are looking at Ogun State and they are saying nothing will change.”
The governor, however, appealed to transport operators against arbitrary increases in fares, saying his administration had invested substantially in road infrastructure to create a conducive environment for the transport sector.
Abiodun said the government had constructed or reconstructed more than 1,700 kilometres of roads across the state and implemented a multimodal transport master plan.
“For you transport unions, we have reconstructed or constructed over 1,700 kilometres of roads across the length and breadth of this state,” he said.
“We have by so doing created an enabling environment for your sector to not only thrive but to succeed.”
The National President of ACOMORAN, Alhaji Shamsudeen Apelogun, said the endorsement demonstrated the political awareness and numerical strength of transport operators in the state.
Apelogun described the unions as organised stakeholders capable of influencing political choices through their votes.
He urged members of the unions to scrutinise the records and antecedents of political candidates before deciding whom to support.
The ACOMORAN president also called for greater attention to roads and transportation infrastructure, arguing that an efficient transport system would contribute to economic activity and development across Ogun State.
He cautioned against using transport unions as instruments of political division, urging their members to participate responsibly in the electoral process.
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