Solomon Adeola, widely known as Yayi, the consensus governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, recently held significant meetings in Abeokuta to shore up support for his 2027 gubernatorial ambitions.

Seeking to consolidate the party’s position, Yayi visited prominent political figures Iyabo Obasanjo and former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Ishola.

These consultations follow the party’s April 13 strategic caucus decision, which designated the third-term senator representing Ogun West as the flagbearer for the upcoming election. Yayi was accompanied by a high-profile entourage, including former deputy governors Segun Adesegun and Salmot Badru, as well as various commissioners and former party leaders, highlighting the collective effort to ensure a unified campaign.

During his visit to Iyabo Obasanjo’s residence, Yayi lauded the former Commissioner of Health for her “maturity and magnanimity” in embracing the party’s decision. He expressed his commitment to inclusivity, pledging to integrate her team into his campaign and inherit the blueprints she had previously developed to advance the development of Ogun State.

In her response, Obasanjo reaffirmed her dedication to the APC, noting that she had already instructed her supporters to work for the party’s success. Beyond the governorship race, she signaled her readiness to support Yayi, as well as the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu and other party candidates, reinforcing the party’s cohesion ahead of the polls.

Yayi’s visit to Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Ishola also yielded substantive results for his campaign. The meeting served as a platform for 24 political support groups that were previously aligned with the former minister to officially collapse their structures into Yayi’s movement. Yayi described the Ambassador as a dependable leader and expressed appreciation for the advice and massive support he received.

Ambassador Ishola provided insight into his endorsement, emphasizing the urgent need to end the “hostile succession” that has plagued Ogun State’s political transitions. By supporting the party’s consensus decision, he noted that he hopes to establish a legacy of peaceful political change, a stance reinforced by the collective agreement of Ogun West aspirants to speak with one voice.

Through these strategic visits, Yayi has significantly strengthened his campaign by integrating the influence and networks of key political heavyweights.

The successful alignment of these camps underscores the APC’s focus on maintaining internal unity, thereby positioning the party to face the 2027 general elections with a solidified front across Ogun State.