Not Yet Crowned, Already Counted: Yayi’s Growing Political Gravitas
The loudest campaign in Ogun State right now isn’t full of speeches. It’s the hum of new transformers and the rustle of scholarship award letters. These are the tools of Senator Solomon “Yayi” Adeola.
As of 2026, Yayi is a clear favourite for the 2027 governorship. He is the Senator for Ogun West and chairs the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee in Abuja. This dual role gives him a unique leverage: he can direct federal attention while building a local base.
His strategy is one of visible munificence. His office has distributed 102 electric transformers across all three Ogun districts. He funds scholarships and gives grants to thousands of farmers. This is a political edifice built project by project. Moreover, polls back his momentum.
In late 2025 surveys, Yayi led other contenders with about 19% support, pulling votes from beyond his home region. His main catalyst seems to be history: the Ogun West area has never produced a governor. Yayi, a former Lagos politician who moved his base home, is positioning himself as the region’s overdue answer.
But there are hurdles. Rivals still use his “Lagos returnee” past to question his roots. He also faces other strong contenders within his own APC, which could make getting the party ticket a fight.
Yet his gambit seems shrewd. He is using his federal role to deliver local results, hoping voters will care more about light and opportunity than old geography. His professional background as a top accountant suggests this is all a calculated balance sheet.
For now, Yayi’s strength is quiet but concrete. It’s in the communities that now have electricity and the students his grants support. The 2027 election may simply be the day the rest of the state officially counts what he has already been building.
