Ogun gov: APC disowns Hunye, insists Yayi is candidate

The national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress has reaffirmed Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as the Ogun State governorship candidate of the party for the 2027 election, dismissing Abayomi Hunye’s contrary claim amid an ongoing court challenge to the party’s primary.

In another statement, the state chapter of the party reaffirmed Yayi as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

In a disclaimer signed by its National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, the APC described Hunye as an impostor, adding that he was currently on suspension as a member of the APC.

According to the APC, Hunye was suspended from the party on April 7, 2026, following a petition from his ward, Tube Ward, in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state.

The party said the suspension was a grassroots decision driven by the ward executives, ratified by the Ipokia Local Government Area and formally approved by the Ogun State Working Committee.

It added that the suspension was communicated to the national headquarters of the party.

The APC listed the reasons for Hunye’s suspension as engaging in activities injurious to the image of the party and deliberate actions aimed at causing disaffection and division among loyal members.

“Consequently, he lacks the legal and moral standing to represent the APC in any capacity,” the party said.

The APC affirmed that following the validly conducted primary election of the party, the duly nominated and elected governorship candidate for the 2027 Ogun State election is Solomon Adeola, with Kudirat Balogun as his running mate.

It stated that the names and other particulars of Adeola and Balogun had been uploaded onto the Independent National Electoral Commission portal.

The party said INEC had issued official acknowledgement slips confirming them as the recognised flag bearers of the APC for the governorship election scheduled for February 2027.

The APC warned that any person, group or organisation who associated, collaborated or transacted political business with Hunye under the guise of the APC did so at their own risk.

It added that the party would not be held liable for any financial loss, legal disputes or criminal liability arising from such dealings.

The party said it had instructed its legal team to initiate contempt proceedings and file a formal complaint with relevant security agencies over what it described as gross misrepresentation and impersonation.

In another statement signed by its state chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, on Sunday, the party described the alleged claim as false and urged its members, supporters and the general public to disregard it.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ogun State APC wishes to state clearly that Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, is the duly recognised governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State for the 2027 election,” the statement said.

According to the party, Adeola emerged from its governorship primary with 304,055 votes out of the 305,287 accredited voters who participated in the exercise.

Following his emergence, the senator picked Mrs Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun as his running mate.

The APC said the names of Adeola and Adegunwa-Balogun had subsequently been submitted to INEC as its governorship candidate and running mate for the 2027 election.

The party, therefore, dissociated itself from Hunye’s claim and any other declaration purporting to present another person as its governorship candidate.

“The Ogun State APC, therefore, dissociates itself from any contrary claim or declaration by Abayomi Semako Hunye or any other individual purporting to be the party’s governorship candidate,” it stated.

The party urged the public to rely on official communications from the Ogun APC and relevant electoral authorities on the issue.

Hunye, at a press briefing in Abeokuta on Saturday, dismissed reports that he had withdrawn from the race, saying he was already in court challenging the process that produced Yayi as the APC governorship candidate.

He also unveiled Abayomi Odunowo from Ijebu-Ode as his running mate and said he would continue his campaign across the state in accordance with electoral laws.

Hunye, according to a statement from his media office, however, denied declaring himself as the governorship candidate of the party, adding that he was only stating the legal position on the party’s governorship candidate for the state.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Hon Abayomi Hunye has never declared himself the APC governorship candidate.

“His position has consistently been clear: the matter remains before a court of competent jurisdiction, and the issues surrounding the emergence of the party’s governorship candidate are still subject to judicial determination.”

A chieftain of the party and former federal lawmaker in Ogun State, Kayode Oladele, however, criticised Hunye over his continued pursuit of the 2027 governorship ticket and the recent unveiling of a running mate.

Oladele, in a statement on Sunday, described Hunye’s actions as an “exercise in futility,” arguing that the APC had concluded its nomination process and forwarded Adeola’s name to INEC.

“What Hon Hunye is presently doing is a one-man show. His activities do not represent the position or programme of the APC in Ogun State.

“He can pursue whatever legal remedies that are available to him, but unveiling a running mate cannot create another APC governorship ticket. The party has spoken, the process has been concluded, and the APC has moved on,” he said.