Ogun Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele Enters Ogun West Senate Race, Sparks APC Power Struggle Ahead of 2027

Fresh political tension is building in Ogun State as Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele steps into the Ogun West senatorial race, setting the stage for a fierce contest within the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 elections.

Her move comes at a strategic moment. With the APC already settling its governorship ticket through a consensus that produced Olamilekan Adeola as its candidate, the focus has now shifted to the Senate seat he is expected to vacate.

Party sources confirm that Salako-Oyedele has secured her Nomination and Expression of Interest forms, reportedly obtained on her behalf on April 30, 2026. That quiet move has now triggered loud political ripples across Ogun West.

What looked like a smooth transition is quickly turning complicated. Multiple aspirants are now lining up for the same ticket, raising doubts about whether the APC can repeat its earlier consensus strategy without internal fallout.

Among those already in the race are Gbolahan Dada, Waliu Taiwo, and Jimoh Ojugbele. Their presence significantly raises the stakes and weakens any easy path to agreement within the party.

Behind the scenes, pressure is building from different blocs. Some stakeholders are pushing for Salako-Oyedele, arguing that Ogun State has not produced a female senator since Iyabo Obasanjo left office in 2011. Others, however, are focused purely on political structure and loyalty, not gender balance.

That divide exposes a deeper issue the party will have to confront: whether merit, zoning, or strategic optics will ultimately decide the ticket. And right now, there’s no clear answer.

There are also concerns about unity. The APC’s recent success in avoiding a governorship crisis is still fresh, and party leaders are wary of reopening internal battles that could weaken their position ahead of 2027.

As alliances begin to form and negotiations intensify, one thing is clear: Salako-Oyedele’s entry has transformed what could have been a routine succession into a high-stakes political contest that will shape Ogun West’s power structure for years.