In Ogun, 2027 Race is Also a Family Affair

When Nigerians go to the polls in Ogun State in 2027, they will be choosing a governor. But the race behind the scenes suggests they will also be passing judgment on something older, namely, the political weight of family names that have defined the state for generations.

The clearest example is the Adebutu family. Sir Kessington Adebutu, the patriarch, built one of Nigeria’s most recognisable business and philanthropic empires. His son, Ladi Adebutu, has spent years converting that legacy into political capital, serving in the National Assembly and running for governor multiple times. He has now secured the PDP consensus candidacy for 2027.

On the other side of the business world sits Chief Kola Adegunwa, an industrial heavyweight whose family name commands serious respect in Ogun. Questions about whether an Adegunwa heir might enter active politics have become part of the 2027 conversation, though nothing has been formalised.

Former Governor Olusegun Osoba’s influence also runs through the current cycle. His son, Olumide, has won the APC ticket for a fourth term in federal parliament, keeping the Osoba name firmly in play. Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s daughter Iyabo has been publicly active, though the family appears divided on which candidate to back for governor.

The dynastic narrative has a significant counterpoint, however. Senator Solomon Adeola, widely known as Yayi, won the APC governorship ticket with 304,055 primary votes, backed by the combined machinery of Governor Dapo Abiodun and President Bola Tinubu. Yayi is not an heir to a famous name. He built his own political structure.

Technocrats like Communications Minister Bosun Tijani and former Finance Minister, Wale Edun have also been mentioned in succession conversations, representing a different kind of credential entirely.

Family names open real doors in Ogun. They do not, on their own, unlock Government House.