A coalition of political stakeholders in Ogun West Senatorial District has declared its opposition to the governorship ambition of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly called Yayi, while throwing its support behind Ladi Adebutu ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The group, operating under the banner of Ogun West Concerned Stakeholders, made its position known during a press briefing held on Thursday in Ilaro, insisting that the district’s long-standing quest to produce the next governor should be driven by an indigene with deep ancestral roots and a proven commitment to the Yewa cause.
Addressing journalists, the group’s spokesperson, Adetunji Akeem Adedeji, argued that Senator Adeola does not possess the historical ties or political background required to fly Ogun West’s governorship ticket.
According to him, the senator was not involved in the district’s previous struggles to produce a governor, particularly during the governorship campaigns of the late Adetunji Olurin in 2011 and Gboyega Isiaka in 2015.
“We are determined to preserve our history. During the governorship aspirations of General Olurin and Gboyega Isiaka, Senator Yayi was nowhere around. He was never part of our political struggle,” Adedeji said.
He further alleged that the senator worked against Ogun West’s governorship interest in both the 2019 and 2023 elections, claiming he played a role in frustrating the ambition of Biyi Otegbeye during the last governorship contest.
The coalition, which claimed to have over 5,000 members spread across Ogun West, thereafter announced its endorsement of Adebutu, describing him as a politician with established roots in Ogun State and longstanding ties with the district.
Another member of the group, Adeshola Hakeem, questioned Adeola’s claim of being a true son of Ogun West, alleging that the senator only recently identified with the district without a corresponding record of sustained development or political involvement.
He maintained that Ogun West deserves a leader with a verifiable connection to the people and a consistent commitment to the region’s aspirations.
Also speaking, a community leader from Ward 1 in Ilaro, Olabisi Ogundare, said she could not identify Senator Adeola’s family lineage within the community, adding that she was more familiar with Adebutu’s relationship with the people.
The stakeholders reiterated that Ogun West should remain focused on producing a governor whose ancestry and historical connection to the district are not in doubt, insisting that the region must not compromise its long-standing political aspiration.
