The Hope for Ogun West Governorship Ticket Becomes Unpredictable

As the leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State comes close to unveiling its governorship candidate, Femi Ogbonnikan examines the possibility of the ticket going to Ogun West

After a long wait, strong indications have emerged that the Ogun State leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has finalised arrangements to unveil its preferred governorship candidate. Feelers from the state secretariat of the party hinted that the state leadership of the party was prepared to announce the successor to Governor Ibikunle Amosun from among the strong contenders to the exalted office.

The decision would end the ‘hide and seek’ game the governor deployed in the recent past, ostensibly to buy time.

Notwithstanding, recent events by the three major political parties, APC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ‘third force’, African Democratic Congress (ADC) appear to be altering the political equation in Ogun. Following the withdrawal of an APC strong contender, (Sen Solomon Olamilekan Adeola), the chances of Ogun West (Yewa/Awori zone) presenting a consensus candidate is already shrouded in uncertainty. The initial aspiration of the Lagos West lawmaker had stirred the hornet’s nest and sought to strike a balance with whoever the incumbent governor is. The exit of Adeola, a formidable aspirant, may have sealed the chances of a Yewa candidate coasting home to victory in the 2019 governorship election in the state.

With Adeola’s withdrawal, the coast is clear for Amosun to unilaterally a successor, without input from stakeholders from other zones. Lack of cohesion among the aspirants, has been identified as a major threat, to forging a common in order to come up with a consensus candidate.

The development has signalled a repeat of the outcome of the 2011 Ogun State governorship where two Ogun West candidates (Prince Gboyega Isiaka and retired Gen Adetunji Olurin) emerged and contested against each other, thus making it an easy win for the incumbent governor, Amosun, an Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, who is from Ogun Central (Abeokuta).