By Peace Udugba -The Daily Torch Media
A former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, Wale Adedayo, has predicted a major political upset in the 2027 governorship election, saying the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ladi Adebutu, will defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.
Adedayo, who served as a council chairman under the APC administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun, made the prediction on Monday night while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
He said the APC had allegedly lost touch with voters across the state and would be defeated at the polls in the 2027 governorship election.
According to him, the political situation across Ogun State was changing rapidly, with the PDP gaining ground ahead of the election.
“The way things are going now, APC is gone in Ogun State,” Adedayo said, predicting what he described as “seismic changes” across the state’s 20 local government areas and 236 wards.
He argued that Adebutu had emerged as the candidate to beat, claiming that political realignments across the state were favouring the PDP.
“We are not going to have any battle in Ogun State. We are talking about seismic changes, in terms of the fact that we are going to have an earthquake where people will move in the direction a lot of people may not expect,” he said.
Adedayo further claimed that while President Bola Tinubu would retain support in Ogun State, the PDP would make significant gains in the National Assembly, governorship and House of Assembly elections.
“The way things are going now, APC is gone in Ogun State. PDP is going to be there in 2027 for a number of reasons,” he said.
Adedayo Questions Yayi’s Ancestry Claim
The former council chairman also questioned Senator Adeola’s claim of Ogun State indigene status, alleging that the APC governorship candidate had no ancestral roots in the state.
He challenged Adeola to provide evidence of his ancestry, while arguing that political candidates should not rely on financial inducements or other means to establish claims of indigene status.
“He doesn’t have any root in Ogun State,” Adedayo alleged. “As much as possible, we should not encourage fraudulent claims.”
The allegation remains a political claim by Adedayo and was not independently established in his comments.
Zoning and Yewa-Ijebu Politics
On the issue of zoning, Adedayo said the Ijebu had supported candidates from the Yewa axis in previous elections and argued that the political equation had now changed.
He said the Ijebu had supported the Yewa people during the 2011 and 2015 elections, including when Yewa candidates contested for the governorship.
“But this time around, since genuine Yewa indigenes have been sidelined, pushed aside, we just feel that it is time for one of us, Adebutu, to go to that seat and he is the one qualified,” he said.
Adedayo insisted that he had no objection to zoning but maintained that candidates seeking to claim Ogun State ancestry should be able to substantiate such claims.
Calls for Informed Voting
The former council chairman also urged Ogun voters to scrutinise the backgrounds and records of all governorship candidates before voting.
He said democracy required voters to make informed decisions based on the candidates’ qualifications, records and policies.
Adedayo maintained that the APC was losing popularity across the state’s 20 local government areas and claimed that the PDP was gaining significant support, particularly in Ogun Central.
“Right now, APC is declining in the 20 local governments. Go to Ogun Central and see what is going on there, it is beyond what people are saying on social media,” he said.
He predicted that the alleged political shift would translate into electoral gains for Adebutu in the 2027 governorship election.
Claims APC’s 2023 Margin Will Not Be Repeated
Adedayo also argued that the political situation in Ogun State had changed significantly since the last governorship election.
He referenced Governor Dapo Abiodun’s alleged performance at his polling unit, ward, local government and senatorial district during the previous election, saying the outcome demonstrated that the APC could no longer rely on its previous electoral strength.
“The fact that someone is in the National Assembly does not absolve that person of any blame,” he added.
The 2027 Ogun governorship election is expected to be a major political contest, with the APC seeking to retain control of the state and opposition parties working to wrest power from the ruling party.
