The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing an unprecedented governorship crisis as two politicians are now campaigning for the same 2027 ticket, with Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, recognised by the party as its candidate, while Abayomi Hunye insists he remains in the race and is challenging the primary outcome in court.
The deepening crisis became more dramatic on Thursday when Adeola and Hunye separately mobilised their supporters and launched parallel campaign activities across the state, exposing the widening fault lines within the ruling party and raising questions over who will ultimately fly the APC flag in the 2027 governorship election.
While the APC leadership has endorsed Adeola following its consensus arrangement and subsequent governorship primary, Hunye has refused to accept the outcome, insisting that his legal challenge remains alive and that he cannot be forced out of the race while the matter is before the courts.
The development has effectively produced a “two candidates, one ticket” situation within the Ogun APC, with both camps attempting to consolidate support ahead of the 2027 election.
Hunye has consistently denied claims that he withdrew from the contest or agreed to step down. He has also unveiled Otunba Abayomi Odunowo of Ijebu-Ode as his running mate, signalling his determination to continue with his campaign.
“They said they have made some appeals to me and I have stepped down. Some said it has been settled. I want to tell everybody in Ogun that that is a big lie. I am still in the race,” Hunye said.
“We are in court, and I believe that, at the end of the day, victory is mine.”
Hunye argued that his decision to proceed with campaign activities was consistent with the electoral process, maintaining that challenging the primary in court should not prevent him from participating in subsequent stages of the election pending judicial determination.
His position, however, directly conflicts with that of the APC leadership, which recognises Adeola as the party’s governorship candidate.
The national leadership of the party has also maintained that Hunye was suspended from the APC and has reportedly called for a police investigation over allegations of impersonation.
But Hunye has rejected the suspension claim, questioning why the party would have sold a N50 million governorship nomination form to him, screened him and allowed him to participate in the primary if he was allegedly ineligible to contest.
The competing claims have transformed what began as a post-primary disagreement into a full-blown battle over the ownership of the APC governorship ticket.
For now, Adeola has the party’s recognition, while Hunye has the court challenge and his own campaign structure.
That has left the Ogun APC facing a politically explosive question ahead of 2027: How can one party have two governorship campaigns when there is only one ticket?
The answer may ultimately come from the courts, negotiations within the party, or a combination of both. Until then, the APC’s internal battle threatens to overshadow its preparations for the 2027 governorship election and could test the party’s ability to maintain its grip on Ogun State.
