Ayomide Awe
A former Chief of Staff to the Ogun State Governor and the All Progressives Congress consensus candidate for Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency, Dr Toyin Taiwo, has described the governorship ambition of suspended APC chieftain, Abayomi Hunye, as a political strategy aimed at strengthening his bargaining position within the party.
Taiwo, who spoke during an interview on Oju Abe, a current affairs programme on Splash FM, Abeokuta, said Hunye’s purchase of the APC governorship nomination form would not alter the party’s decision to back Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as its candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
He said Adeola emerged as the party’s consensus candidate after extensive consultations among APC leaders, including former governors and other influential stakeholders in the state.
According to Taiwo, Hunye’s political manoeuvring was not unusual, recalling that the suspended chieftain had adopted a similar strategy during the first term of Governor Dapo Abiodun, after which he was appointed a commissioner.
“Hunye has his distinctive way of playing politics. In my view, he obtained the nomination form as part of a strategy to negotiate for a political position,” Taiwo said.
He added that Hunye had subsequently been suspended by the APC, beginning from his ward and extending through the party’s organisational structure.
Taiwo maintained that Hunye could not overturn what he described as a collective decision reached by the party’s leadership and stakeholders.
He said party members were expected to respect the principle of party supremacy and decisions reached through recognised party structures.
“A loyal member of the APC is expected to respect the principle of party supremacy and abide by decisions taken through the appropriate party structures. Hunye’s recent actions do not demonstrate sufficient respect for that principle,” he stated.
‘Ipokia people did not endorse Hunye’
Taiwo also dismissed claims that the people of Ipokia had endorsed Hunye’s governorship aspiration, describing such reports as inaccurate.
“The people of Ipokia have not endorsed Hunye for governor. Any suggestion to the contrary does not accurately reflect the collective position of the people,” he said.
The APC candidate said Hunye was now seeking an amicable resolution of the disagreement after the party had made its position clear.
He described the former lawmaker’s recent political activities as manoeuvres designed to reposition himself within the APC ahead of the 2027 elections rather than an attempt to overturn the party’s decision.
Speaking on the 2027 governorship contest, Taiwo expressed confidence that Adeola would defeat the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Ladi Adebutu.
He hinged the APC’s expected victory on what he described as the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the developmental initiatives of Governor Dapo Abiodun and Adeola’s constituency interventions.
“With the interventions and achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Dapo Abiodun and Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, alongside my modest contributions to the development of our constituency, I am confident that our people will vote massively for me and overwhelmingly for the APC,” he said.
Taiwo predicted that Adeola would defeat Adebutu across the state’s 20 local government areas.
“Senator Adeola will defeat Ladi Adebutu decisively. I am confident that he will secure victory across the 20 local government areas of Ogun State. The only question that remains is the margin of victory,” he declared.
On the proposed development of Tongeji Island, Taiwo pledged to support efforts to attract Federal Government attention and intervention to the project if elected to the National Assembly.
He said he would use his legislative position to promote the development of the island and ensure that its economic potential was harnessed for the benefit of residents of Yewa South and Ipokia.
Taiwo also outlined some of his constituency priorities, promising to expand his educational support programme and empowerment initiatives.
He said the programme currently includes payment of General Certificate of Education examination fees as well as the distribution of school uniforms, school bags and learning materials to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
He also promised to strengthen support for market women and young people through skills development, enterprise support and improved access to economic opportunities.
“I will sustain and expand my educational support, market women’s empowerment and youth development initiatives when elected.
“My objective is to provide effective representation that produces practical and measurable improvements in the lives of our people,” he said.
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