Women groups, supporters demand explanation over Salako-Oyedele’s exclusion
Analysts warn against internal cracks ahead of 2027 elections
Confusion and political tension have continued to trail the omission of Noimot Salako-Oyedele from the list of aspirants cleared for the Ogun West Senatorial primaries of the All Progressives Congress holding today.
The development, described by party insiders as unprecedented, has stirred uncertainty within the ruling party and raised fresh concerns over fairness, loyalty and inclusion in the party’s internal process.
The exclusion has triggered reactions among party faithful and supporters across Ogun West, especially as the Deputy Governor had openly prepared for the contest through consultations with party leaders, stakeholders, women groups and political associates across the senatorial district.
Findings indicated that Salako-Oyedele had purchased her nomination forms and intensified consultations across the five local government areas in Ogun West ahead of the primaries.
Political observers described her aspiration as significant, noting that she remained the only prominent female aspirant from Ogun West seeking the senatorial ticket — a development many believed could strengthen women’s political participation within the party.
Reacting to the controversy, Desola Jolaogun of the She Leads Advocacy Group described the omission as shocking and disappointing.
According to him, the Deputy Governor had demonstrated commitment to the process through extensive consultations and sustained engagement with stakeholders across Ogun West.
“It is surprising that a woman who has shown capacity, loyalty to the party and commitment to grassroots consultations would have her name missing from the list at this stage. Many women across Ogun West were looking forward to her participation in the primaries,” he said.
Supporters of the Deputy Governor also expressed surprise over the development, insisting that she fulfilled the necessary requirements and remained actively involved in consultations leading to the exercise.
The omission has since generated intense discussions within political circles in Ogun State, with some party members demanding clarification over the circumstances surrounding the list.
In a related development, Otunba Fatai Sowemimo, a notable APC chieftain in Ogun East, had earlier warned that political imposition and exclusionary tendencies could weaken the party’s internal cohesion.
He cautioned that sidelining respected leaders and loyal stakeholders could breed resentment capable of affecting party mobilisation ahead of future elections.
According to Sowemimo, such grievances may not necessarily lead to open defection but could result in silent withdrawal of support during critical political contests.
Supporters of Salako-Oyedele further argued that Ogun State last produced a female senator more than two decades ago when Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello represented the state in the Senate.
As of the time of filing this report, the Ogun State chapter of the APC had yet to issue an official statement explaining the Deputy Governor’s absence from the primaries list.
Political analysts warned that if the emerging tensions and allegations of exclusion are not properly managed, the party could face deeper internal divisions in the months ahead.
They noted that fractured alliances, weakened grassroots mobilisation and declining enthusiasm among loyal supporters could pose challenges for the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Analysts also maintained that the future stability of the APC in Ogun State may depend largely on how effectively the party leadership manages internal grievances and competing interests within its ranks.
