Oredipe, who spoke on Monday during an online engagement with members and supporters of the OTO Movement, said his decision to support Adeola followed the party hierarchy’s decision to select the senator as its preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
According to him, accepting the party’s decision and supporting the chosen candidate was a demonstration of loyalty and commitment to the APC.
He said, “Shortly after the party hierarchy decided on the final selection of our distinguished Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) as our preferred candidate, we showed our support and agreement with that decision by accepting his nomination.”
Oredipe explained that after consulting with his supporters, he resolved to give Adeola his “full support,” stressing that the senator had demonstrated the capacity and capability required to govern the state.
“The senator that we are supporting is a man that is known by all of us. He has been working towards this goal for many years, and he has demonstrated his capability and capacity to serve in that position,” he said.
The former governorship aspirant said he and his supporters subsequently visited Adeola to understand his plans for Ogun State and were satisfied with his presentation and vision for the state.
He disclosed that the OTO Movement, which he leads, had also invited Adeola to Ijebu, where members had the opportunity to interact with him and showcase their readiness to support his campaign.
According to Oredipe, the movement displayed branded vehicles and campaign materials and unveiled an event centre that would serve as a venue for meetings and consultations ahead of the election.
He said the roadshow organised by the movement was aimed at taking Adeola’s message directly to residents and creating greater awareness about his candidacy.
“The roadshow is going to be an opportunity to really get people to know more about our candidate, his capacity, what he has been in the past to the state, and what he is going to be for the state going forward,” Oredipe said.
He listed the objectives of the roadshow to include creating massive awareness for Adeola, engaging stakeholders such as market women, transporters, artisans, youths and community leaders, mobilising supporters and volunteers, and distributing campaign materials.
Oredipe added that the OTO Movement would not only campaign for Adeola but would also support other APC candidates contesting various elective positions in Ogun State.
“We will also be talking and selling all other candidates of the party,” he said, adding that the movement would support the party’s candidates for the National Assembly and Ogun State House of Assembly.
Speaking on Adeola’s agenda, Oredipe highlighted good governance and public accountability, infrastructure development, education and youth development, healthcare and social protection as some of the key areas of focus.
He said the proposed emphasis on good governance would ensure that residents could access government opportunities without relying on personal connections.
“You don’t really have to know somebody or connect to somebody before you get development to your various communities; he has assured us of open government,” he stated.
On infrastructure, Oredipe said Adeola’s agenda included roads, electricity and water, with particular attention to rural communities. He also cited the senator’s interventions in education and healthcare as evidence of his preparedness for higher office.
“If he can do so much when he’s just a senator that is ordinarily to focus on Ogun West, and he has been doing it in other parts of the state, then I think he is a ready-to-go candidate to take it at the state level,” he said.
Oredipe further praised Adeola’s understanding of international development partnerships and his ability to engage Nigerians in the diaspora, describing himself as “very comfortable” with the senator’s candidacy.
He said, “I’m very comfortable with his candidacy, I’m very comfortable making him my governor, and I’m also very comfortable voting for all APC candidates.”
Oredipe expressed optimism that the APC would emerge victorious in the 2027 governorship election, declaring that the OTO Movement would continue to mobilise support for Adeola across communities in Ogun State.
“So come May 2027, you and I will celebrate the coming of Senator Olamilekan Yayi, the popular one, the man who has demonstrated capacity, the man who has shown that he’s a friend of the people in both the urban centres and rural areas,” he said.
