Hunye’s APC Candidacy claim invalid, Odunaro insists as Ogun race heats up

Chinedum Ukaegbu

Media Adviser and Chief of Staff to Senator Solomon Adeola, Kayode Odunaro, has dismissed Abayomi Hunye’s claim to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidacy in Ogun State, insisting that Hunye scored zero votes in the party’s governorship primary.

Odunaro, who is also Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the Ogun State APC Campaign Council, made the statement on Monday during an interview on ‘Frontline’, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu.

He spoke amid controversy surrounding the emergence of Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as the APC candidate for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election and Hunye’s insistence that he remained a legitimate candidate of the party.

According to the result announced by the APC governorship primary election committee, Adeola secured 304,055 votes, while Hunye recorded zero votes.

Responding to questions about Hunye’s position, Odunaro maintained that the outcome of the primary had established Adeola as the party’s recognised candidate.

“The fellow who called himself a candidate of APC scored zero in all the wards. After the court verdict, it was said he actually scored zero,” Odunaro said.

He also claimed that the party had taken disciplinary action against Hunye, alleging that the suspension had been communicated through the APC’s structures from the ward to the state level.

“The party, from the ward level to the State level, has suspended him and already notified the national level,” he said.

Odunaro’s remarks come as political activities gather momentum within the Ogun APC ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with disagreements over the party’s candidate continuing to attract attention.

Odunaro defends Yayi’s emergence

The APC campaign council spokesman also defended the process that produced Adeola as the party’s governorship candidate, rejecting suggestions that his emergence was imposed on other aspirants or influential stakeholders.

He argued that Adeola’s emergence followed an understanding among relevant party stakeholders rather than a unilateral decision.

“It was initially a congenial arrangement; it was not an imposed consensus… it was a consensus based on the agreement of every relevant stakeholder,” Odunaro said.

He maintained that the process was intended to preserve unity within the party and position it for victory in the 2027 governorship election.

Despite the controversy surrounding the primary, Odunaro expressed confidence that the disagreements would not significantly affect the APC’s electoral prospects in the state.

“I don’t see any disagreement that will have any injurious effect on the chances of the party in the 2027 election,” he said.

APC confident ahead of 2027 polls

Odunaro further described the APC as firmly established across Ogun State, attributing the party’s strength to the performance of the current administration and the contributions of elected representatives, including Adeola.

He said the activities of the governor, the senator and other APC officeholders had helped consolidate the party’s position across the state.

“Very solid across the length and breadth of the State based on the good works of the governor and the good works of Senator Adeola and also elected representatives,” he said.