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| Hajia Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo with fanfare |
In a spontaneous yet deeply symbolic gathering that underscored the growing reach of opposition politics beyond Ogun State’s borders, scores of Ogun indigenes resident in Kano turned out on short notice this week to welcome Hajia Lateefat ‘Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 election. The reception, marked by chants of “Ogun for Ogun,” prayers, and pointed calls for youth empowerment, highlighted both the enduring ties that bind Ogun people across Nigeria and the intensifying contest for control of one of the country’s most strategically important states.
Sowunmi-Kolapo, a veteran journalist, media strategist, and the Iya Sunnah of Egbaland, was in Kano for a programme when members of the Ogun State Indigenes Association learned of her presence. They quickly organised a visit, prompting the candidate to adjust her flight schedule to receive them. The gesture was not lost on the group. Association President Alhaji Lateef Faisu Alamu, from Ipokia Local Government Area, framed it as evidence of the candidate’s inclusiveness and genuine connection to her people.
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“Please tell Hon. Ladi Adebutu that it (the 2027 election) is ‘Ogun for Ogun’. We go home frequently, and we have our strong structures there,” Alamu told Sowunmi-Kolapo. “Because of the love we have for our state, Ogun State, we quickly gathered ourselves together to welcome you. We could not afford to allow you to come to Kano without seeing us.”
Alamu, who previously served as President of the Yoruba community in Kano for eight years, stressed that the Kano-based indigenes are “pure Ogun State indigenes” with kinship ties that cut across political divides, including connections to former Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and the incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun. He emphasised that many among them are accomplished professionals—medical doctors, lawyers, and businessmen—yet they remain concerned about the plight of younger Ogun graduates who struggle to find meaningful employment despite their qualifications. Youth empowerment, he insisted, must be a priority for any incoming administration.
General Secretary H.O. Salami, from Ogun East Senatorial District, added a note of faith and determination: “We welcome you to Kano. I know that very soon, we will vote for you. We have seen you; we want you to be there. We have seen you; we want to see you in the seat of power. May God make it happen.” Former Legal Adviser Imam Abdulyaqeen Olugbenga Abduljaleel thanked the candidate for prioritising the engagement and expressed the broader aspiration that Ogun emerge as a prosperous, well-governed model for the rest of Nigeria. Youth and women leaders joined in chorusing “Ogun for Ogun,” pledging solid support.
A Journalist Turned Political Contender
Sowunmi-Kolapo’s emergence as Adebutu’s running mate in June 2026 was widely viewed within PDP circles as a strategic boost. A former Group Business Editor of The Punch newspapers and founder of the strategic communications firm Right-Dev Limited, she brings more than 26 years of experience in journalism, corporate communications, government advisory roles, and public affairs. She has also held traditional and religious titles, including Iya Sunnah of Egbaland and Ameerah of Ogun State, and was recently installed as Grand Matron (Egba Zone) of the Ogun State Muslim Council—an honour that has carried political resonance in the buildup to 2027.
Her selection completed a ticket led by Hon. Oladipupo “Ladi” Adebutu, a former House of Representatives member and the PDP’s 2023 governorship candidate. In that election, Adebutu came within roughly 14,000 votes of unseating Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a narrow margin that has fuelled PDP confidence that 2027 offers a realistic path back to power. Adebutu emerged as the party’s consensus candidate for 2027 after an affirmation process, and the campaign has centred on the slogan “ITURA DE”—Yoruba for “relief” or “comfort has come”—anchored on competence, compassion, and effective governance.
At the Kano engagement, Sowunmi-Kolapo reiterated that commitment. She described Adebutu as a leader who has consistently demonstrated concern for the welfare of Ogun people across all local government areas even without holding elective office. She assured the diaspora group of the PDP’s focus on job creation and inclusive development, while urging a stronger sense of ownership of the state’s political destiny. Citing recent political shifts in neighbouring Osun State as evidence that voters can reclaim control, she warned against any arrangement that could undermine Ogun’s autonomy or reduce its people to “second-class citizens in our own homeland.”
“Ogun for Ogun is our reality for building a solid foundation for the future of our children and grandchildren,” she said. She called on Ogun indigenes in Kano and across Northern Nigeria to remain actively engaged in home-state politics and to mobilise relatives and communities ahead of the election.
Diaspora Engagement and the Stakes of 2027
The Kano reception is not an isolated event. In recent months, Sowunmi-Kolapo has engaged Ogun communities in Enugu and elsewhere, part of a deliberate effort to activate diaspora networks that maintain strong home ties and voting influence.
Similar gatherings have emphasised the same themes: indigenous ownership of the state’s political future, youth employment, and rejection of external political dominance. These outreaches reflect a recognition that Ogun’s large, educated, and mobile population—spread across Nigeria and beyond—can tip the balance in a closely contested race.
Ogun State’s 2027 governorship election is shaping up as one of the more competitive in the South-West. The APC has settled on Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) as its candidate, with Governor Abiodun backing a succession plan that also aligns with long-standing demands from Ogun West for a turn at the governorship. PDP, for its part, is framing the contest as a liberation struggle against what it calls years of underperformance, while stressing local government autonomy, workers’ welfare, security, agriculture, education, and youth and women empowerment under the ITURA DE framework.
Analysts note that diaspora groups such as the one in Kano matter because many members travel home regularly, maintain family and economic stakes in Ogun, and can influence both voter turnout and grassroots messaging. Alamu’s insistence that “money cannot buy” the prayers and support of the Kano community, while still expecting fulfilment of promises on youth empowerment, captures a pragmatic realism common among diaspora stakeholders: emotional loyalty is strong, but delivery will be measured.
Identity, Inclusion, and the Limits of Slogans
The repeated refrain “Ogun for Ogun” is more than a campaign slogan. It taps into a deeper conversation about political ownership, indigeneity, and the fear that external interests or non-indigenous power brokers could dilute the state’s autonomy. Sowunmi-Kolapo’s direct appeal on this point—and her reference to Osun—suggests the PDP is seeking to frame the election as a defence of local identity and self-determination rather than a pure partisan contest.
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At the same time, the Kano group’s emphasis on youth employment and inclusive governance points to the practical challenges any incoming administration will face. Ogun has long been celebrated for its educational and entrepreneurial strengths, yet high graduate unemployment remains a persistent grievance. Whether the ITURA DE agenda can translate campaign rhetoric into measurable job creation and economic relief will likely determine how lasting the current wave of diaspora enthusiasm proves to be.
The engagement ended with prayers for Sowunmi-Kolapo’s safe return and continued mobilisation. For the PDP, such moments serve dual purposes: they expand the geographic footprint of the campaign and reinforce the narrative that the ticket enjoys organic support from Ogun people wherever they reside. For the indigenes in Kano, the meeting offered a rare opportunity to voice expectations directly to a leading candidate and to assert their continued relevance in the politics of their home state.
As the 2027 election cycle intensifies, interactions like the one in Kano illustrate how diaspora communities are no longer peripheral observers. They are active participants demanding both recognition and results—an emerging dynamic that candidates ignore at their peril.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Technology.
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