Why more women are in Ogun guber race

Dozens of aspirants across major political parties are currently jostling for the governorship seat of Ogun State ahead of the 2027 general election. That of Ogun is different because three of the popular ones are women. Ogun State has produced a female Speaker, Chief Judges and three deputy governors between 1999 and date. However, the […]

Dozens of aspirants across major political parties are currently jostling for the governorship seat of Ogun State ahead of the 2027 general election. That of Ogun is different because three of the popular ones are women.

Ogun State has produced a female Speaker, Chief Judges and three deputy governors between 1999 and date. However, the governorship seat has appeared to be a hard nut to crack for female politicians, not just in Ogun State but across Nigeria.

This time, the ladies have stepped up their game and have appeared more determined than ever to clinch the position. Analysts say this is because there are more female politicians who have garnered experience over the years who now see an opportunity to grab the seat.

Female politicians at different times have thrown their hats into the ring for the governorship seat but have failed due to what pundits call structural barriers, limited party support and societal biases.

Late Chief (Mrs.) Titi Ajanaku was a prominent Nigerian politician and trailblazer, having been the first elected female chairman of Abeokuta Local Government Area in 1987.

Said to be the first female elected council chairman in Nigeria, Ajanaku later served as a Special Adviser on Women Affairs to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

A trained nurse and activist, Ajanaku pursued the governorship of Ogun State on multiple occasions, primarily during the early 2000s and around the 2011 election cycle. She was an advocate for internal party democracy and competitive primaries, and argued in 2010 that candidates should emerge through democratic means rather than just zoning.

But unlike in 1987, Ajanaku was unable to break the jinx of emerging as a female governor in Ogun State and, by extension, Nigeria. She died in December 2019.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo paid glowing tributes to her, noting that her loyalty and commitment to women’s affairs development were exemplary and worthy of emulation.

“As an exemplary patriot, her rare courage and contributions laid a solid foundation for Ogun State and for Nigerian women to take their rightful position in our nation’s polity. To women, she occupied a special place as a mother, role model and source of inspiration — a redoubtable champion and defender of women’s rights,” Obasanjo said in a condolence letter.

Many other female politicians have taken shots at the governorship race after what appeared to be Ajanaku’s pioneer struggles in the state.

Dr Jackie Adunni Kassim was another who was involved in the Ogun State governorship race, notably in 2019 and 2023.

During the 2019 election cycle, she was the only female governorship candidate in Ogun State, contesting on the platform of the United Democratic Party (UDP). She also battled for the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) ticket in 2023 before she stepped down for another aspirant amid controversy.

 

Three Battle For APC Ticket Ahead of 2027

Ahead of the next election, three female politicians — Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo; current Deputy Governor Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele; and veteran sports broadcaster Modele Sarafa-Yusuf — are among the aspirants jostling for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket.

 

Iyabo Obasanjo

The daughter of the former president appears to be a late entrant into the race but has been ruffling feathers in recent weeks.

Iyabo recently returned to active politics after about 15 years and joined the ruling APC.

The politician, who represented Ogun Central Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011, participated in the ongoing APC e-registration exercise at Ibogun, Ward 11, in Ifo Local Government Area of the state, effectively sealing her membership of the ruling party.

The renowned epidemiologist and former Ogun State Commissioner for Health lost her re-election bid in 2011 to Senator Gbenga Obadara of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

She subsequently returned to the United States to pursue her academic career, rising to the rank of professor.

Iyabo declared her intention while featuring on a radio programme recently, saying she is out to fill what she described as a governance gap in the state.

The former president’s daughter has strong grassroots support, a family political name and what her supporters call ‘records of achievements’ as commissioner and senator as her advantages in the contest.

She is also from Egbaland in Ogun Central, the senatorial district currently pushing strongly to occupy the Oke-Mosan seat after Governor Dapo Abiodun’s tenure.

Some Egba leaders said Ogun Central could not wait for 16 years before producing another governor. The immediate past governor, Ibikunle Amosun, is from the Central district.

Some analysts identified gender and Iyabo’s father’s political association with the opposition as her major disadvantages in the race. Obasanjo has not hidden his disdain for the ruling party and President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.

There is also a religious factor, as Muslim leaders believe that beyond zoning, the next governor must be a Muslim.

The age-long agitation for power shift to Ogun West — a region that hasn’t produced a governor since the creation of Ogun State 50 years ago — is another major determinant in the race.

But Iyabo insists she is going to be the next governor of Ogun State.

“I’m going to win,” she declared recently while featuring on Frontline, an interactive programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, monitored by our correspondent.

Speaking on the programme, Obasanjo reiterated her governorship ambition, which she hinged on the need to bridge governance “gaps” in the state and make an impact on the lives of Ogun people.

The former senator said she loves making an impact in citizens’ lives because she lives a “life of giving more than I take.”

She said: “The position I’m going to run for is governor, and I believe it fits the skills I bring to the table. As Ogun citizens, I hope that when I’m governor, I will touch your life either directly or indirectly in a way that will improve your lives.”

Obasanjo identified timing and money as two disadvantages in her race for governor.

“So, I’m coming in with two disadvantages, as I see it: time, because I came in a little late.

“I don’t think money makes elections. I know that it’s hard to believe in Nigeria, where money is so important in everything. I believe that people are good people, and they know who will do right by them.”

 

Noimot Salako-Oyedele

The current deputy governor is a public health engineer and real estate specialist.

She hails from Aworiland, Ota, in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State. Her father was a Nigerian academic who was professor emeritus of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of Ibadan.

In March 2019, she was elected to serve as deputy governor to Governor Abiodun.

Unlike Iyabo, the deputy governor has not declared her intention to run for governor, but findings revealed that she has been making moves behind the scenes to succeed her boss in 2027.

Her region, Ogun West, which is deemed politically marginalised since the creation of Ogun State in 1976, is an advantage to her ambition. She is equally a Muslim.

However, the deputy governor, apart from lacking grassroots political strength, has many formidable male aspirants to contend with from the region.

The current senator representing the district, Solomon Adeola (Yayi); a three-time governorship candidate and serving House of Representatives member, Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka; and a third-term Rep member, Isiak Akinlade, are some of the leading aspirants from Ogun West.

It is also not clear if the deputy governor has the blessing of her boss to run in the race.

 

Modele Sarafa-Yusuf

Modele Sarafa-Yusuf is a pioneering Nigerian journalist, Africa’s first female sportscaster and a political figure currently running for governor of Ogun State in 2027.

Modele made history as Africa’s first female sportscaster at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), where she worked for over 17 years.

She covered major international sporting events, including the Olympic Games in Atlanta and Sydney; the World Cup finals in the USA (1994) and France (1998); the Commonwealth Games; and the first Women’s World Cup in China (1991).

She also reported on business, politics and crime, and contributed as a columnist and television scriptwriter.

Her work helped change perception of women in sports broadcasting and opened doors for future female journalists.

After retiring from NTA in 2003, Modele joined Globacom in 2004 as Senior Manager of Sponsorships, where she developed sponsorship strategies and managed media relations.

Modele Sarafa-Yusuf served as Special Adviser on Information to Governor Dapo Abiodun during his first term.

She declared to run against Abiodun during the 2023 election before later stepping down.

Ahead of the next election, she formally declared her intention to run for governor of the state.

In an open letter posted on her X handle and addressed to party leaders, members and stakeholders, Sarafa-Yusuf said her decision followed “deep reflection and wide consultation.”

Describing herself as “the safest option”, she said: “If I get the party’s ticket and go on to be elected, I will govern as an administrator — consultative but firm and disciplined. Institutions will be respected. Power will be exercised with restraint.”

Modele hails from Ogun East Senatorial District like the current governor — a development which might have technically knocked her out of the race.

A political scientist, Prof Emmanuel Ojo, described the trio’s ambition as a good development for democracy and Ogun State.

He also challenged women to gang up and produce a female governor next year if any political party eventually picks a female candidate.

“I think when party primaries are held, any political party that produces a female candidate, I want to appeal to women to vote for that candidate. There are more women in our society and they are the ‘enemies’ of themselves.

“If women should gang up, they should go for the best among them — the one that is cerebral among them. It’s a good development for our democracy,” Ojo said.

Ojo, who was Chief of Staff during the administration of late Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, identified culture as the greatest challenge facing female politicians aspiring to become governor.

“So if they can overcome that, it will be good for our society. Because education they don’t lack. The three of them are well educated. They are professionals in their own right. When it comes to money, Iyabo Obasanjo has been a senator. The one who is deputy governor can get people to sponsor her; likewise the journalist can network to get money to sponsor the election.

“The cultural aspect is the problem in our society. But notwithstanding, one day someone will break the jinx. And I hope it is from Ogun State,” he concluded.