Ogun Governorship: How Yayi Could Defeat Sarafa Ishola in the 2027 General Election

As the 2027 General Election in Nigeria approaches, the race for the Ogun State Governorship seat is heating up and becoming increasingly intriguing. 

Two prominent contenders have emerged: Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan, popularly known as Yayi, and Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Ishola.

Senator Yayi currently represents Ogun West in the Nigerian Senate, while Sarafa Ishola served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2021 to 2023 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Yayi is running under the banner of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and hails from Ogun West. In contrast, Sarafa Ishola is reportedly contesting under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and is from Ogun Central.

Political analysts familiar with the landscape suggested that Yayi holds a significant advantage. 

They described him as a seasoned grassroots politician with widespread popularity and a track record of impactful governance. Many believe he has positively touched more lives than any other contemporary Ogun politician.

Furthermore, the APC remains a dominant force in Ogun State, across the South West region, and nationally—giving Yayi’s candidacy a strategic edge over his SDP rival.

Sources close to Yayi's camp disclosed that he is leaving no stone unturned in his pursuit of the governorship. 

His campaign strategy reportedly involves robust outreach to all segments of society through empowerment programmes and frequent community engagements, reinforcing his identity as a "son of the soil."

"Yayi is leagues ahead of Sarafa Ishola, whose political résumé is limited. Apart from serving as a local government chairman, he lacks substantial political experience," a political insider remarked.

Yayi's legislative experience is extensive. He served in the Lagos State House of Assembly from 2003 to 2011 representing Alimosho Constituency, then moved to the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015, where he chaired the Appropriation Committee. He later became a senator representing Lagos West from 2015 to 2019 and again from 2019 to 2023. In 2023, he transitioned to Ogun State and was elected to represent Ogun West in the Senate, where he currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation.

“Comparing Yayi to Sarafa Ishola, whose only notable political role was a one-term local government chairman, is a mismatch.

“Yayi has both the experience and financial muscle required to run a successful gubernatorial campaign," another source added.

Insiders also suggested that Yayi enjoys strong backing from major APC stakeholders in Ogun State, who see him as the preferred successor to incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun. In contrast, Sarafa Ishola reportedly lacks widespread support even within his own party.

Many political observers argued that it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the SDP to clinch the governorship in Ogun, labeling the party as a "lightweight" in the state's political arena.