Senator Yayi Drops ₦50m to Pick Up APC Gov Forms; Consensus Candidate Officially Joins 2027 Race to Succeed Abiodun

The race for the Ogun State Government House has officially shifted into its highest gear as Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, the political heavyweight widely known as Yayi, formally obtained his governorship nomination forms. In a move that signals the end of speculation and the beginning of a high-stakes campaign, the Senator picked up the ₦50 million documents at the APC National Headquarters, backed by a massive delegation of supporters and party loyalists.

This development comes just weeks after the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) reached a landmark agreement to adopt Yayi as its consensus candidate. By picking up the forms, the Senator has effectively locked in his status as the man to beat in the upcoming primaries, moving one step closer to his long-held ambition of leading the Gateway State. His candidacy is seen as a pivotal moment for the Ogun West Senatorial District, which is fighting to break a decades-long “jinx” and produce a governor for the first time.

Addressing the media following the purchase, the Senator’s team emphasized that this run is about “consolidation and continuity” of the progress seen under the current administration. They described the ₦50 million investment as a “small price for the future of Ogun,” highlighting Yayi’s legislative experience and his “digital-age” approach to governance as his primary selling points. The Senator, who successfully migrated his political base from Lagos to Ogun in a unprecedented move years ago, is now positioning himself as the unifying bridge between the state’s diverse interests.

As the 2027 transition cycle gathers momentum, the APC’s decision to rally behind a single candidate is being viewed as a strategic “power play” to prevent internal friction and present a unified front against the burgeoning opposition coalition. With the forms now in hand, the focus in the “political trenches” of Abeokuta and Ilaro has shifted to the official campaign launch, which insiders suggest will be one of the most well-funded and organized in the history of the South-West.

For now, Yayi has moved from the “speculative” list to the “active” list, setting the stage for what many believe will be a coronation rather than a contest within the ruling party.