Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, has intensified her political profile ahead of the 2027 elections by backing a nationwide women’s mobilisation campaign and formally joining the race for the Ogun West Senatorial seat.
Salako-Oyedele was among prominent national figures who attended the Power of 10 Million Movement rally at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
The initiative aims to connect and mobilise 10 million Nigerian women through a coordinated platform designed to strengthen their political, economic and social participation ahead of the next general election.
Speaking at the rally, the deputy governor said Nigerian women were already contributing significantly across different sectors but required stronger networks and coordination to amplify their collective impact.
“From the woman in Kano running her trade, to the farmer in Benue, to the entrepreneur in Lagos, women are already working. The challenge has not been capacity, it has been connection,” she said.
According to her, the success of the movement would depend not merely on numbers, but on organisation, shared purpose and sustained engagement. She stressed that millions of informed and united women could influence governance, economic inclusion and community development nationwide.
Salako-Oyedele also pledged to collaborate with other women leaders to ensure grassroots voices are represented in key decision-making processes.
Chairperson of the Progressive Governors’ Wives Forum, Chioma Hope Uzodimma, described the initiative as a practical strategy for identifying and integrating women into a broader national development framework.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, told participants that women, who constitute more than half of the country’s population, possess the capacity to drive national progress and meaningful change. She reiterated that the Renewed Hope Agenda supports inclusion and promotes stronger female participation in governance.
Meanwhile, political attention in Ogun State shifted to Salako-Oyedele’s Senate ambition following reports confirming her entry into the race for the Ogun West Senatorial District seat.
Her declaration comes after the emergence of Solomon Olamilekan Adeola as the consensus governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a development that effectively opened the Ogun West Senate seat.
Photos circulating online showed the deputy governor holding her Nomination and Expression of Interest forms, further confirming speculation surrounding her bid to succeed Adeola in the Senate.
Within the Ogun APC, discussions are reportedly ongoing on whether to adopt a consensus candidate for the senatorial district, similar to the process that produced Adeola’s governorship ticket. Party leaders are said to be considering the move as a strategy to preserve internal unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
Salako-Oyedele’s candidacy has already attracted support from several quarters, with supporters highlighting her experience in governance since assuming office as deputy governor in 2019.
Her supporters also view her ambition as a significant boost for gender representation in Ogun West, as women’s groups across the district have reportedly begun mobilisation efforts in support of her candidacy.
A native of Ota in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, Salako-Oyedele is believed to enjoy considerable grassroots support among the Awori and Yewa communities, two influential voting blocs in the district.
Although she has officially declared her interest, political observers say the eventual shape of the contest will depend largely on whether the APC opts for a primary election or a consensus arrangement.