Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun announced Senator Salisu as the “consensus” choice for the Ogun Central senatorial seat during a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Abeokuta, but the endorsement was met with open resistance from sections of the party and several aspirants.
Key takeaways
- Governor Dapo Abiodun named Senator Salisu as the consensus candidate for the Ogun Central senatorial district at an APC stakeholders’ gathering in Abeokuta.
- The meeting took place at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena and drew senior party figures, government officials, and other stakeholders.
- Before the announcement, the governor urged participants to accept Senator Salisu despite imperfections and to prioritize party unity.
- Several stakeholders rejected the move, arguing it effectively sought to impose a candidate rather than let the district choose.
- Four aspirants publicly distanced themselves from the endorsement: Lanre Tejuoso, Olugbenga Obadara, Emmanuel Sofela, and Otunba Muriana Banjoko.
Meeting in Abeokuta and the push for consensus
The APC Ogun Central Stakeholders’ Meeting was held at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, the state capital. In attendance were the party chairman, Mr Yemi Sanusi; Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Yayi; the Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide; the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi; along with party leaders, loyalists, stakeholders, and others.
Before the formal endorsement, the governor appealed to stakeholders on Senator Salisu’s behalf, saying, “nobody is perfect,” and adding that individuals come with both strengths and weaknesses.
As the governor sought buy-in, several stakeholders and party members voiced loud opposition, saying they were unhappy with what they described as an effort to impose Senator Salisu as the consensus candidate for Ogun Central.
Abiodun then asked members and stakeholders to forgive perceived shortcomings and to rally behind the senator, arguing that doing so was necessary for the sake of unity within the party.
He subsequently declared Senator Salisu as the consensus candidate for the Ogun Central Senatorial District.
Despite the appeal and the announcement, the crowd resisted the decision, insisting that voters and people of the district should be allowed to decide who emerges as their preferred candidate.
Before leaving the venue in anger, the aggrieved stakeholders maintained that Ogun Central deserved an open and transparent process that could accommodate all eligible aspirants within the party.
Aspirants reject the endorsement
Shortly after the meeting, four aspirants—Senator Lanre Tejuoso, Senator Olugbenga Obadara, Emmanuel Sofela (the immediate past Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Investment), and business mogul Otunba Muriana Banjoko—rejected the endorsement of Senator Salisu.
Tejuoso, who served as representative for Ogun Central between 2015 and 2019, said the endorsement was unacceptable and argued that APC members should be permitted to choose their candidate in the next election.
Obadara, who represented Ogun Central between 2011 and 2015, described the endorsement as “immoral.” He said, “It’s not in any way supported by us. It’s against morality and against our discussion at the last meeting. We are totally rejecting the decision to endorse Senator Salisu. That’s the decision of the four of us.”
Sofela said the disagreement was rooted in democratic practice, stating that aspirants were expressing their interest in serving the people. He added, “If the people who are currently being served in the constituency, the preponderance of them, are saying no, what more evidence do you want? If four people who are aspirants and the preponderance of the people of Ogun Central are saying we don’t want somebody who’s representing us to go back and represent us, what more evidence is needed?”
Otunba Muraina Banjoko also aligned with the position of the other aspirants, saying he attended a meeting late the previous night between 1:30 and 2 o’clock, where the outcome was inconclusive. He said, “Our people wondered why they went ahead to endorse someone today and raise his hand up.”
