Ogun 2027: Ladi-Lateefat Ticket As The Winning Lottery

By Adesina M. Adebayo

The countdown to the 2027 gubernatorial election in Ogun State has systematically altered the state’s political landscape, bringing long-simmering structural realities, identity questions, and elite alignments to the forefront.

While the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has actively sought to solidify its hold on power by positioning the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (popularly known as Yayi), as its consensus candidate, this arrangement has inadvertently exposed deep fractures within the ruling Party.

Conversely, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has systematically consolidated its ranks. By pairing the established grassroots machinery of Hon. Oladipupo “Ladi” Adebutu with the professional and cultural credibility of veteran journalist and religious leader Alhaja Dr. Lateefat Sowunmi-Kolapo, the PDP has presented a politically balanced and formidable ticket. When viewed through the lens of historical voting blocs, elite consensus, and candidate vulnerabilities, the Ladi-Lateefat ticket emerges as the most stable, locally grounded choice for the Gateway State.

The fractured, contentious consensus arrangement of the APC in the state the question of indigeneship hanging on its candidate creates a very poor picture for the ruling Party’s chances. This is not a mean challenge for both the Party and Senator Solomon Olamilekan no matter how much efforts are made to paper over these gaping cracks on the wall. Yayi is seen in Ogun State, rightly or wrongly, as a smuggled merchandise from another state. Ogun State’s politics is so unique in its complex sophistication that it is practically impossible to gloss over issues of origin the impropriety of the process that produced a candidate. Unfortunately the APC is not managing its internal squabbles sensibly in Ogun State which was a major factor that cost the Party Osun State’s recently concluded election which Accord Party’s candidate, Governor Ademola Adeleke won convincingly.

The foundation of the APC’s 2027 strategy relies heavily on a top-down consensus model engineered to smooth Yayi’s transition to the state’s highest office. However, this strategy has met with internal resistance and legal challenges from party stakeholders who view the imposition as an obstacle to democratic fairness. This structural instability is compounded by a persistent debate regarding Senator Adeola’s indigeneship.

Having built his entire political career in Lagos State – serving as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the House of Representatives, and eventually as the Senator representing Lagos West -Yayi’s sudden political migration to Ogun West has raised identity questions among local stakeholders. Many influential political figures and community leaders continue to question the authenticity of his ancestral claims to Yewaland.

In a state deeply attached to native heritage, the perception of an imported political career remains a significant vulnerability, inviting skepticism from voters who value deeply rooted local connections.

It is incumbent to also consider the geopolitical weight of Egba and Ijebu alliances. Ogun State’s politics historically hinges on the delicate power dynamic among its major sub-ethnic groups: the Egba, Ijebu, Remo, and Yewa/Awori. While there is a valid argument for power to shift to Ogun West (Yewa) – a zone that has not produced a governor since the state’s creation in 1976 – the political reality is dictated by voting numbers and elite alignment. The Egba (Ogun Central) and Ijebu (Ogun East) blocs command overwhelming electoral numbers and political influence.

The PDP ticket bridges these regional power structures. Ladi Adebutu brings a formidable financial and grassroots network firmly rooted in the Ijebu/Remo axis (Ogun East). Crucially, by selecting Lateefat Sowunmi-Kolapo – the Iya Suna of Egbaland and an esteemed daughter of the Owu Kingdom- the PDP has secured a direct, culturally resonant gateway into the Egba heartland (Ogun Central). This combination appeals directly to the state’s most populous voting zones, positioning the ticket as a reliable alternative to an APC consensus arrangement that many local elites feel sidelines their regional interests.

Beyond regional geometry, the 2027 contest will inevitably focus on public accountability and institutional stewardship. As the head of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Adeola operates under intense scrutiny. He has frequently faced public criticism and allegations of project diversion. Opponents and civil society watchdogs have questioned the reallocation of federal funds and resources – alleging that projects originally earmarked for certain northern and eastern constituencies were redirected to bolster his political standing in Ogun West. Even within Ogun State, prominent figures like former Governor Ibikunle Amosun have openly clashed with Adeola over the ownership and execution of localized public projects.

In contrast, the PDP flagbearers present a record free of complex federal budget controversies. Oladipupo Adebutu’s legislative tenure in the House of Representatives remains unblemished by allegations of fiscal misappropriation. His family’s longstanding philanthropic footprint through the Ladi Adebutu Development Organisation (LADO) offers tangible evidence of private investment in the state’s socio-economic development, rendering accusations of public treasury reliance ineffective.

Similarly, Lateefat Sowunmi-Kolapo brings an unblemished record of professional integrity from her career as a senior editor with The Punch Newspapers. Her transition from a rigorous media background to high-level politics introduces a standard of transparency, corporate discipline, and ethical governance that directly counters the transactional perceptions often associated with her opponents.

The ‘Secure Choice for 2027Elections’ in Ogun State are rarely won by financial weight alone; they require a careful blend of local legitimacy, institutional trust, and structural balance. The APC’s reliance on Yayi’s candidacy faces significant hurdles, including an ongoing internal party crisis, unresolved questions about local roots, and controversies surrounding federal allocations.

By contrast, the PDP’s Ladi-Lateefat ticket offers a locally grounded alternative. Combining a resilient, well-funded statewide structure with an authentic regional partnership that respects the influence of both the Ijebu and Egba electorates, this ticket aligns closely with the state’s traditional power bases. For an electorate seeking stability, transparency, and deep native commitment, the Adebutu-Kolapo partnership presents the most viable formula for victory in 2027.

This conclusion is very painful to me personally because, having my strong maternal roots in Yewaland, I would naturally love that Yewa would produce the next Governor of Ogun State for the first time with a less controversial candidate. Ogun West is not devoid of capable and authentic sons and daughters to be Governor, even president.

Ogun West has a rich list of credible candidates who were unwittingly sidelined. Engr. Ganiyu Nasir Isiaka from Imẹkọ-Afọn, Honorable Abiodun Akinlade from Owode-Yewa, and the incumbent Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr. Noimot Salako, and many others from Ogun West are all eminently qualified to be Governor.

We could have avoided all the brouhaha by picking one of those rather than allow ourselves to be enmeshed in this absolutely unnecessary situation.

This is why I’m holding nothing against those critical stakeholders from Yewaland who have decided to work for the success of the Ladi-Lateefat ticket. Afterall, either way, Yewa’s real ‘son of the soil’ won’t be on the ticket among the two leading candidates.