A member of the Federal Character Commission and former House of Representatives member in Ogun State, Kayode Oladele, has said that Mr Abayomi Hunye, the immediate past Managing Director of Ogun State Waste Management Agency, was ill-advised to have participated in the All Progressives Congress governorship primary election without any political structure and support base across the state that could have aided his victory
Oladele stated that the outcome of the primary election clearly demonstrated the overwhelming preference of party members for Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly called Yayi, who eventually emerged as the party’s governorship candidate for the state ahead of the 2027 elections
In a statement on Monday, Oladele said that “The scale of massive support enjoyed by Senator Adeola Yayi across Ogun state made it evident that Hunye entered a contest for which he lacked the necessary political structure, grassroots network and broad-based acceptance among party members to say the least.
“Mr Hunye was certainly ill-advised to enter the race without first establishing a formidable political structure and cultivating the support necessary to compete effectively in a statewide contest.
“The results spoke clearly and unequivocally. Party members across Ogun State overwhelmingly voted for Senator Solomon Adeola Yayi because they believe in his leadership capacity, experience and vision for the state.
The APC chieftain pointed to the voting pattern in Tube Ward in Ipokia Local Government Area, Hunye’s home ward, as evidence of the aspirant’s inability to command support even within his immediate political constituency.
According to Oladele, party members in Tube ward voted massively for Yayi, “demonstrating that you cannot build something on nothing; even those closest to Hunye preferred the eventual winner of the primary election;
“The fact that Senator Adeola secured overwhelming support in Mr Hunye’s own ward of Tube is significant.”
Oladele maintained that “the APC primary election was transparent, credible and reflective of the wishes of party members across the three senatorial districts of the state”.
He argued that the outcome confirmed Adeola’s status as the most widely accepted aspirant in the race.
The former lawmaker added that Yayi’s victory was the product of years of political engagement, strategic grassroots mobilisation, and sustained investment in the welfare of party members and the people of Ogun State.
He disclosed that APC members must now focus on strengthening party unity and consolidating the momentum generated by the primary election rather than dwelling on issues arising from the contest.
“The primary election has come and gone. The party has spoken through its members and produced a candidate who enjoys broad support across Ogun State- something that had never happened before in the history of the State.
“The responsibility before all of us now is to work together, close ranks and ensure victory for the APC in the forthcoming election. Personal ambitions must give way to the collective interest of the party and the people of Ogun State,” Oladele stated.
When contacted for reaction, Hunye said that all of what Oladele and others have said was because his governorship ambition, which many had considered insignificant, is now sending jitters down the spines of those who thought he amounted to nothing politically.
The former OGWAMA boss said that the reality of his governorship is now unfolding in his favour, hence the repeated press statements.
He said, “The claim that I have lost my ward is simply false and contrary to publicly available evidence. There are videos of the overwhelming support we continue to enjoy, and these were aired on national television for everyone to see.
“The truth is that such comments are being made because some people are becoming increasingly jittery about the reality of how events are unfolding in our favour.
“A man they once thought could not amount to anything politically is now giving them sleepless nights and forcing them to address the press repeatedly.
“We remain focused and undistracted. I give all glory to God for the growing support we continue to receive and for how far He has brought us.”
Recall that the former OGWAMA boss has also instituted a suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the outcome of the party’s recently concluded governorship primary election.
Hunye, while addressing journalists recently, said that he is asking the court to nullify the primary election, which he described as fraudulent and riddled with irregularities.
