Ogun 2027: Meet four female politicians battling for Abiodun’s seat

Mar 24, 2026 - 09:00

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Ogun 2027: Meet four female politicians battling for Abiodun’s seat

As the countdown to 2027 begins, the political atmosphere in Ogun, the Gateway State is already thick with ambition.

There is presently an intense jostling for the seat of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

By 2027, Governor Abiodun will be completing his eight years term in office, giving way for the fresh blood at the Oke Mosan seat of power.

Findings by DAILY POST revealed that more than 15 aspirants across party lines are eyeing the Ogun number one political office.

However, of all the aspirants, there are four female politicians attempting to make history in the state and Nigeria by extension.

A Jinx Waiting to be Broken

Ogun State has always been a pioneer in female leadership, producing the likes of late Titilayo Ajanaku, the first woman to be elected as a local government chairman in Nigeria (Old Abeokuta LG), female speaker, and at least three deputy governors.

Salimot Badiru served eight years under Otunba Gbenga Daniel (2003-2011), while Yetunde Onanuga served four years under Ibikunle Amosun (2015-2019) and Noimot Salako-Oyedele is the present deputy governor of the Abiodun-led administration.

However, the ultimate prize, the Governor’s office, has remained all-male enclave since the state’s creation in 1976. Will they break the jinx in 2027? This remains a poser on the lips of political pundits in the state.

Noimot Salako-Oyedele:

As the current Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele is arguably the most strategically positioned. The 60-year-old real estate expert and civil engineer hails from the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government (Ogun West).

She hasn’t declared but her poster has been playing around with the inscription, “Ogun 2027, Let The Good Works Continue.”

Our correspondent observed that her supporters have also begun singing her praises saying, “Noimot lo le se oo” meaning in English, “Noimot can do it.”

And the fact that her region, Ogun West, hasn’t produced a governor since the creation of Ogun State in 1976, boosts her chances. Although, she has formidable aspirants from the region to contend with.

However, history has shown that deputy governors in Nigeria struggle to succeed their principals, hence she must overcome the “Deputy’s Curse”.

Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello: The Return of the “Lioness”

Iyabo, daughter of former Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo, is a name that still sends ripples through the Nigerian political landscape. She was a former Commissioner for Health in Ogun State from 2003 to 2007 under Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s administration before being elected as a Senator representing the Ogun CentralSenatorial District in April 2007 until 2011.

In January, she returned to active politics after about 15 years break and defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to declare her governorship ambition. This sent shockwaves through the state.

Recall that she had lost her re-election bid in 2011 to Senator Gbenga Obadara of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and subsequently returned to the United States to pursue her academic career, rising to the rank of professor.

Her supporters see her as a no-nonsense leader who can bring federal-level experience back to her home state. The 59 years old professor of epidemiology who hails from Ifo Local Government (Ogun Central – Ibogun Ward) recent visibility has sparked rumors that she is ready for a major comeback.

Although critics have labeled her a “diaspora politician” out of touch with modern grassroots realities, she is proving her “street” credibility while embarking on several consultations with political leaders and stakeholders across the state.

The aspirant explained that her focus on people-centred development is influenced by her past experiences in public service as commissioner and senator, where she said she consistently prioritised interventions that improved the lives of ordinary citizens.

She also assured the women folk that if elected, they will become decision makers and not just mere mobilizers during elections.

She said, “Development demands continuity, institutional memory and a leadership that understands that governance is a relay, not a sprint. If entrusted with the mandate in 2027, my administration will be anchored on credibility, competence and compassion.

“We will not run a government of exclusion. Women will not merely be mobilisers during elections; they will be decision-makers at the highest levels of governance.”

The former senator also pledged to lead an open administration with quantifiable results and accountability.

Modele Sarafa-Yusuf: The Media Guru

The 59-year-old veteran broadcast journalist, Modele Sarafa-Yusuf has already tested the waters. She served as a Special Adviser on information and strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, and resigned to contest for the ticket in 2023, signaling her long-term intent.

Sarafa-Yusuf announced her intention to run for the 2027 gubernatorial election in an open letter posted on her official X account in February.

The retired sport journalist who hails from Sagamu Local Government (Ogun East – Iperu Remo) framed the position as a stabilising force amid the risks of party fracture, drawing on her experience in 2022, when she accepted defeat without upsetting relations.

While admitting that the state is blessed, she asserted that blessings alone do not guarantee progress but rather deliberate leadership and trust.

The letter addressed to leaders, members, and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogun State, reads, “Ogun State is blessed with industry, blessed with intellect, blessed with culture, and blessed with strategic relevance to the nation.

“Yet we all know that blessings alone do not guarantee progress. Progress requires deliberate leadership, balance, and trust among our people. It requires continuity.

“After deep reflection and wide consultation, I have decided to make myself available to serve as our party’s candidate for Governor, Ogun State, in the 2027 elections.

“I chose this system of declaration deliberately to be public, honest, and focused on responsibility rather than spectacle.“

Meanwhile, she clarified that this is, however, not a return driven by unfinished business but a response to a different political environment, asserting that the state needs inclusion without escalation, as loud politics can mobilise quickly and collapse quickly, leaving damage behind.

She insisted that her aspiration would pave the way for future generations of women leaders in Ogun state and Nigeria at large.

“Nigeria has never elected a female governor, and I’m aware of the weight of breaking that ceiling.

“To that extent, my aspiration isn’t just about me; it’s about paving the way for future generations of women leaders in Ogun State and Nigeria at large.

“However, this is not about symbolism. It is about capacity and competence,” Sarafa-Yusuf said.

Dr. Bolaji Marie Odusina- From Medical Missions To Political Mission

The United States-based physician and humanitarian formally announced her intention to run for governor of Ogun State in 2027 on Tuesday.

For years, Odusina popularly known as DeeDoc, has quietly built a following through massive free medical outreaches in rural Ogun communities.

Her formal declaration for 2027 signals a shift from medical missions to a political mission.

Although she did not disclose her party affiliation, she said her political platform would be made public in the coming days.

While others talk about politics, the 62-year-old paediatrician, who founded Doctors Without Prejudice with over thirty years of experience in both Nigeria and the US, focused on healthcare, maternal mortality, and grassroots economic empowerment.

Citing findings from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, she decried gaps in maternal healthcare and child mortality, describing them as urgent concerns requiring immediate government attention.

She said, “I have seen families travel across borders for basic medical care. These are not statistics to me; they are real people whose pain I have witnessed.”

The paediatrician hails from Ijebu land.

However, analysts note that her ambition may face hurdles, including the need to build a formidable political structure, secure a viable party platform and translate public goodwill into electoral success.