Ogun APC in turmoil as deputy governor missing from senatorial primary list

Shock and confusion grip the Ogun political landscape after Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele was excluded from the APC’s cleared aspirants list for the Ogun West senatorial primaries raising fresh questions over internal party power play, zoning tensions, and the credibility of the selection process.

Confusion and political tension have swept through Ogun State following the exclusion of Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele from the All Progressives Congress (APC) list of aspirants cleared for the Ogun West senatorial primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The official signed list released on Wednesday includes Senator Tolu Odebiyi, Senator Gbolahan Dada, Hon. Waliu Taiwo, and Hon. Jimoh Ojugbele but notably omits Salako-Oyedele, who had publicly declared interest in the race and undertaken extensive consultations across the senatorial district.

Her exclusion has immediately triggered speculation within party circles, especially as she had already purchased nomination forms and built a visible campaign structure across Ogun West. The Deputy Governor, regarded as the most prominent female aspirant from the district, had engaged women’s groups, political stakeholders, and community leaders in a sustained mobilisation effort.

The development has left her supporters stunned, with many describing the omission as both unexpected and politically unsettling. Advocacy voices have also weighed in, warning that the situation could undermine women’s political participation within the party and beyond.

Desola Jolaogun of She Leads described the exclusion as “shocking and disappointing,” insisting that Salako-Oyedele had demonstrated loyalty to the party, administrative capacity, and strong grassroots engagement that should have secured her a place on the cleared list.

Within the APC structure in Ogun West, the omission has opened up wider debates about the integrity of the screening process and the criteria used in determining eligible aspirants. Party members are now demanding immediate clarification from the leadership, with growing concerns that the controversy could escalate if left unresolved.

Analysts say the development reflects the intensity of internal negotiations ahead of the primaries, where zoning arrangements, loyalty considerations, and factional interests often shape outcomes as much as formal procedures. Some insiders suggest the exclusion could be linked to strategic political balancing within the senatorial district, while others insist it may be an administrative oversight requiring urgent correction.

Meanwhile, supporters of the Deputy Governor are reportedly consulting on next steps, as tensions simmer across party structures. The uncertainty has also fuelled anxiety among other aspirants, who fear that unresolved disputes could weaken party cohesion going into the 2027 elections.

Political observers warn that the APC risks deepening internal cracks if the matter is not swiftly addressed with transparency. They argue that the handling of the situation will be critical in determining whether the party maintains unity in Ogun West or faces a fractured frontline ahead of the senatorial contest.

As of press time, the APC leadership in Ogun State has yet to issue an official explanation regarding Salako-Oyedele’s omission, leaving the political atmosphere thick with speculation and unease.