Despite Senator Yayi Adeola’s growing dominance, insiders say Bosun Tijani remains a serious contender in Ogun State’s 2027 governorship calculations
Ogun 2027: Bosun Tijani Still in the Mix as Yayi’s Guber Ambition Surges
Talks linking Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, to the 2027 Ogun State governorship race are far from over, political insiders have insisted, despite a noticeable decline in public speculation around his ambition.
The renewed assessment comes as Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) continues to consolidate what many observers describe as a commanding early lead in the race to succeed Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Adeola, who represents Ogun West at the National Assembly, has remained the frontrunner from the outset, buoyed by years of sustained grassroots empowerment, cross-party goodwill and the long-standing agitation of the Yewa people to produce the governor of Ogun State for the first time.
Insiders say Tijani’s lingering relevance in the race is tied less to mass mobilisation and more to elite calculations aimed at preserving existing power-sharing arrangements around the Ogun governorship.
Historically, political power in Ogun State has rotated between Ogun East and Ogun Central. With Governor Abiodun from Ogun East and Tijani hailing from Ogun Central, a Yayi victory would introduce Ogun West into the equation—an outcome some entrenched political interests are reportedly uncomfortable with.
Sources familiar with the permutations say Tijani is being positioned, in some quarters, as a bargaining chip in broader negotiations over who ultimately emerges as the consensus candidate.
Although Senator Adeola traces his maternal roots to Ogun Central, resistance within the district remains strong. Influential stakeholders reportedly argue that a “core” Central candidate—such as Tijani—should be preferred over a senator whose political base lies elsewhere.
This sentiment, insiders say, partly explains why Tijani’s name continues to surface in strategic discussions, even as public momentum tilts heavily in Adeola’s favour.
Despite lacking the street-level popularity currently enjoyed by Yayi, Tijani is said to retain significant appeal among decision-makers.
“He is still being mentioned in high places,” a source disclosed.
“He may not command the same street-level momentum as Yayi, but decision-makers see him as a serious option that could emerge through negotiations and political horse-trading.” For now, Adeola remains the most visible and widely supported aspirant ahead of 2027. Yet, insiders caution that Ogun politics has a long tradition of last-minute realignments—suggesting that Bosun Tijani is far from out of the race
