The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has officially announced Mrs. Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun as its deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election, exactly two months after the emergence of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola as the party’s consensus governorship candidate.
The announcement was made on Sunday by Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, during an emergency APC Strategic Caucus meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta.
Governor Abiodun explained that the choice of Adegunwa-Balogun followed extensive consultations with party leaders and stakeholders across the state. According to him, considerations of equity, fairness, gender balance and religious inclusiveness guided the selection process.
He noted that since the governorship candidate hails from Ogun West Senatorial District, it was only fair for the deputy governorship slot to go to Ogun East.
“If the government is coming from the West, we felt that for equity and fairness, the deputy governor should come from the East. We consulted widely across Ogun East before arriving at this decision,” the governor said.
Abiodun formally presented Mrs. Adegunwa-Balogun to the party’s caucus, expressing confidence that she would serve the state diligently if elected.
Speaking at the event, APC governorship candidate, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, commended the governor’s leadership and the transparent process that led to the selection.
Adeola disclosed that 17 aspirants had expressed interest in becoming the party’s deputy governorship candidate, adding that although all were qualified, the party had to settle for one candidate.
He also revealed that Adegunwa-Balogun is the daughter of renowned businessman and Asiwaju of Ijebuland, Sulaiman Adegunwa.
In her acceptance speech, Adegunwa-Balogun expressed appreciation to the governor, party leaders and Senator Adeola for the confidence reposed in her.
She described her nomination as a call to service and pledged not to take the opportunity for granted.
Earlier, Ogun APC Chairman, Yemi Sanusi, praised Governor Abiodun for his leadership and congratulated all candidates who emerged from the party’s primary elections.
The meeting was attended by several top government officials and party stakeholders, including Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, and members of the Governor’s Elders Advisory Council.
However, the state’s Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, was notably absent from the meeting.