By Staff Reporter
ABEOKUTA — A major crack emerged within the Ogun State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress on Thursday as political stakeholders in Ogun Central Senatorial District openly rejected the endorsement of Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu as the consensus candidate for the 2027 general elections by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
The dramatic rejection occurred during the Ogun Central APC Stakeholders’ Meeting held at the MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta, where party leaders, elected officials, loyalists and members gathered to deliberate on the political future of the senatorial district.
Among prominent personalities at the meeting were the Ogun State APC Chairman, Mr. Yemi Sanusi; Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi; Deputy Governor Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi; party elders and other stakeholders from across the district.
Tension reportedly rose at the gathering when Governor Abiodun appealed to party faithful to support Senator Salisu, urging them to overlook his perceived shortcomings in the interest of unity within the party.
According to sources at the meeting, the governor told stakeholders that “nobody is perfect,” stressing that every individual possesses strengths and weaknesses.
The governor thereafter announced Senator Salisu as the consensus candidate for Ogun Central Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, the announcement was immediately greeted with loud opposition from many stakeholders and party members, who openly resisted what they described as an attempt to impose a candidate on the people of the district.
Watch the rejection video below 👇
Several aggrieved members reportedly shouted down the endorsement, insisting that the district must be allowed to decide its candidate through a democratic and transparent process.
The development created a tense atmosphere at the venue as some stakeholders expressed dissatisfaction with the move, arguing that the APC in Ogun Central should not abandon internal democracy.
“We cannot accept imposition. The people must be allowed to choose who represents them,” one of the aggrieved stakeholders was heard saying during the heated exchanges.
Another party loyalist maintained that endorsing a sole candidate years before the election could alienate other aspirants and deepen divisions within the party.
Despite repeated appeals by Governor Abiodun for calm and unity, many members remained unmoved, insisting that all qualified aspirants should be given a level playing field to contest.
Some of the protesting stakeholders eventually stormed out of the meeting in anger, describing the endorsement as premature and unacceptable.
The dissenting voices maintained that Ogun Central deserves an open, inclusive and transparent process capable of accommodating all aspirants interested in contesting under the APC platform.
Political observers say the incident may signal growing internal disagreements within the ruling party in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections, especially over succession calculations and zoning arrangements within the senatorial district.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Senator Salisu nor the Ogun State APC leadership had officially reacted to the open rejection by stakeholders.
