The build-up to the 2024 Local Government Election in Ogun State has ignited a fierce power tussle within the All Progressives Congress (APC), pitting two political heavyweights against each other.
Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Senatorrepresenting Ogun West, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, are at the center of a growing rivalry that threatens to reshape the party’s dynamics in the state.
The struggle for control is heating up as Senator Yayi’s faction seeks to undermine Governor Abiodun’s grip on the APC’s structure, particularly in the selection of candidates for the upcoming local government elections.
Traditionally, Governor Abiodun has held sway over party affairs in Ogun, but recent maneuvers by Senator Yayi’s camp are challenging that dominance.
The battlegrounds have been identified across key local government areas, including Ado-Odo/Ota, Abeokuta South, Ipokia, Sagamu, and Ijebu North.
Reports suggest that Senator Yayi’s camp is deploying a two-pronged strategy to gain control. First, local government party chairmen, particularly in Ado-Odo/Ota and Yewa North, have allegedly been swayed to back Senator Yayi’s preferred candidates.
This tactic aims to marginalise Governor Abiodun’s loyalists, positioning Yayi’s faction to dominate in key local government chairmanship races.
Second, where local leaders resist Yayi’s influence, political caucuses loyal to the Senator have reportedly been deployed to create unrest.
These groups are allegedly stirring confusion and disrupting party unity, particularly in areas like Obafemi Owode, Sagamu, and Ewekoro, pressuring Governor Abiodun to concede to Yayi’s demands.
The stakes are high for Governor Abiodun, who is under mounting pressure to maintain his influence within the APC. With local government chairmen and key stakeholders reportedly shifting allegiance to Senator Yayi, concerns are growing over the governor’s diminishing control.
This internal strife could weaken Abiodun’s political standing and influence, not only in the upcoming local government polls but also in shaping the party’s future in Ogun State.
Political analysts note that Yayi’s faction has capitalized on the governor’s perceived vulnerabilities, exploiting divisions within the party and leveraging his growing support base in Ogun West Senatorial District.
While the immediate focus is on the 2024 local government elections, this power struggle is widely viewed as a precursor to the 2027 governorship race. Yayi, who has long been eyeing the governorship, appears to be laying the groundwork for a formidable bid.
By strategically placing his loyalists in key local government positions, Yayi could be positioning himself as a dominant force in Ogun politics.
Observers believe that if Yayi succeeds in installing his candidates across the state’s local governments, it could trigger a political realignment within the APC, further undermining Governor Abiodun’s leadership. Such a shift would not only alter the power dynamics within the party but also set the stage for Yayi’s potential governorship ambitions.
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