Kayode Odunaro, Media Adviser and Chief of Staff to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 Ogun governorship election, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has outlined his principal’s political and development agenda, saying the senator’s ambition to govern the state is driven by the pursuit of justice, balanced development and greater representation for Ogun West.
Odunnaro made this known on Monday, while speaking on Frontline a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun state, where he discussed the political situation in Ogun State and Senator Yayi’s ambition ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
He said Ogun West had been excluded from producing a governor of the state for several decades, describing the issue as one of the factors shaping Yayi’s political ambition.
According to him, “One of the major highlights of his agenda is to say, look, we don’t want injustice in the future. His ambition is running on the platform of justice for all Ogun people, particularly the people of Ogun West.”
Odunnaro said Yayi’s experience as a legislator had also exposed him to the challenges facing communities across the state, adding that lawmakers had a responsibility to attract development and empowerment to their constituencies.
He said, “They also have a role to play in the distribution and attraction of projects, of empowerment to their people.”
Development and Infrastructure
Speaking on Yayi’s record in Ogun West, Odunnaro said the senator had contributed to infrastructure development in the area, including road projects and other interventions.
He argued that Yayi’s experience at the legislative level could be useful if he eventually becomes governor.
“If you watch what Solomon Adeola(Yayi) has done in the last three and a half years in Ogun West, not only Ogun West, you can see what he has done. If you become a governor, you can do much more,” he said.
Odunnaro also pointed to road construction and other infrastructure projects, saying they were evidence of efforts to address longstanding development challenges in the area.
He said the distribution of government projects remained important to communities that had complained of inadequate infrastructure over the years.
Finance and Revenue Generation
Odunnaro further described Yayi as someone with extensive experience in public finance and legislative appropriation.
He said Yayi’s experience as chairman of committees dealing with finance and appropriation had given him knowledge of how government revenue is generated and managed.
According to him, “This man knows everything about public finance. So when he comes to Ogun, Ogun needs to get involved.”
He also argued that the state needed to improve its internally generated revenue and properly utilise available resources for development.
Yayi’s Governorship Ambition
On what Yayi would do if elected governor, Odunnaro said the focus would be on improving infrastructure, strengthening revenue generation and ensuring that government projects have direct benefits for residents.
He also dismissed speculation that Yayi would prioritise building a new airport, saying the emphasis would instead be on making existing infrastructure commercially viable where necessary.
“He is just going to improve on the already existing one. Maybe take it to a level that it will be so commercially viable that Ogun will continue to benefit from it,” Odunnaro said.
APC and the path to 2027
On the internal situation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Odunnaro said he did not see disagreements within the party as capable of undermining its chances in the 2027 election.
He described Yayi’s emergence as the party’s candidate as the outcome of what he called a consensus arrangement involving relevant stakeholders.
“It was a consensus based on agreement of every relevant stakeholder. The whole party agreed,” he said.
Odunnaro also addressed the controversy surrounding another aspirant’s claim to the party’s governorship ticket, arguing that the recognised primary process should determine the legitimate candidate.
On Ancestry and Ogun Governorship
Odunnaro also rejected arguments questioning Yayi’s eligibility to contest based on his ancestry.
He maintained that ancestry should not be used to exclude a qualified aspirant from participating in the democratic process.
“The issue of ancestry, like I said, they raise it because they want to exclude him. But there is no need to exclude him. They are going to put you in a mood and exclude him with your vote,” he said.
He further argued that the constitutional requirements for contesting the governorship should take precedence over claims based on ancestry.
Odunnaro said the 2027 election should ultimately be about the competence, policies and ability of candidates to serve the people of Ogun State.
