By Esther Onyegbula

A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun State, Mr. Abayomi Hunye, has dismissed reports suggesting that leaders of the party have settled for a preferred candidate ahead of the 2027 election, describing such claims as premature and lacking official backing.

Hunye, who is the Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority, OGWAMA, spoke in Abeokuta on Thursday, insisting that no individual could be presented as a consensus candidate without due consultation and agreement among party stakeholders.

He maintained that any decision on consensus candidacy must emanate from a collective process involving party executives and leaders, who would assess all aspirants based on defined criteria before arriving at a position.

“I want to use this opportunity to clarify that no one has been officially chosen. Any claim to that effect should be regarded as speculation,” he said.

According to him, it would be inappropriate for any individual to make public pronouncements on behalf of the party regarding candidate selection without broad-based endorsement.
He noted that while consensus remains a legitimate option within party processes, it must follow internal deliberations and agreement among key stakeholders.

Hunye, a former Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives in the state, also renewed his appeal for a power shift to Ogun West Senatorial District in the interest of equity and inclusiveness.

He argued that since the creation of Ogun State in 1976, the governorship had rotated between Ogun Central and Ogun East, leaving Ogun West yet to produce a governor.
While acknowledging that all qualified indigenes of the state have the constitutional right to aspire to the office, Hunye stressed the need for fairness in the distribution of political leadership.

“Ogun State has three senatorial districts, Ogun West, Ogun Central and Ogun East. Historically, leadership at the governorship level has been between the Central and the East. For equity and balance, there is a strong case for Ogun West to be considered,” he said.

He further highlighted the economic contributions of Ogun West to the state, citing industrial hubs within the axis, and urged stakeholders across the state to support the call for inclusiveness in future leadership arrangements.

Hunye expressed optimism about the party’s internal processes and reiterated his commitment to pursuing his ambition within the framework of the APC.