The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has officially unveiled Alhaja Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun as its deputy governorship candidate for the upcoming 2027 gubernatorial election. Adegunwa-Balogun, a chartered accountant and the daughter of prominent industrialist Alhaji Adebola Adegunwa, was announced by Governor Dapo Abiodun on Sunday during the party’s Strategic Caucus Meeting held at its secretariat in Abeokuta. The governor explained that the decision was finalized after widespread consultations with various party stalwarts and key stakeholders across the state.
The deputy vacancies slot will see her run on a joint ticket alongside the standard bearer of the party, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, who is popularly known as Yayi. Her selection follows the resolution to zone the deputy governorship position to the Ogun East Senatorial District, which was subsequently micro-zoned to the Ijebu Central Federal Constituency. The 51-year-old financial expert currently occupies the position of Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Finance and Administration at Rite Foods Limited. Political analysts consider her choice as a tactical move to bolster the appeal of the party among corporate professionals, female voters, and the electorate within Ogun East ahead of the polls.
Speaking during the presentation, Governor Abiodun lauded the leadership and membership of the party for maintaining internal cohesion throughout the concluded primary elections, describing the development as unprecedented in the political annals of the state. He observed that the political platform successfully produced its candidates for various elective offices without dragging the party into severe disputes, court litigations, or internal factional crises.
The governor remarked, “I have never witnessed anything like this in my years in politics in Ogun State. For the first time, leaders across generations came together to collectively endorse a successor, and that decision was accepted peacefully by all stakeholders,”
He further noted that the adoption of the consensus mechanism during the governorship primary provided a solid foundation for the peaceful conduct of other legislative and local primaries across the state.
Abiodun added, “What we achieved reflects the true Ogun spirit. History will be kind to all of us because we have demonstrated that peaceful succession and consensus-building are possible in our politics,”
The state helmsman also showered praises on various aspirants who voluntarily withdrew from the races to protect the unity of the party, describing their individual compromises as pivotal to the stability and overall electoral readiness of the party. While justifying the selection of Adegunwa-Balogun, the governor emphasized that considerations of equity and regional fairness guided the allocation of the slot.
He noted, “If the government is coming from the West, we felt that for equity and fairness, the government should come from the East,”
Abiodun further announced, “So today, it gives me great pleasure to announce to us who our deputy governor will be by the grace of God. Today, we have amongst us Mrs. Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun and by the grace of God, Mrs. Adegunwa-Balogun will be our deputy governor.”
Also speaking at the gathering, the governorship candidate, Senator Adeola, expressed absolute confidence in the ability of Adegunwa-Balogun to complement his administrative vision if elected into office. He简 cited her exemplary professional milestones, leadership track record, and profound commitment to public service as key indicators of her capacity.
In her acceptance remarks, the newly minted deputy governorship candidate described her selection as a profound call to service, promising to utilize her corporate experience to advance the development of the state.
She stated, “I see this nomination as a call to duty and a privilege to serve. My over three decades of experience in various leadership and governance roles in the corporate world have prepared me for this moment,”
She explained that her exposure to governance systems trace back to 1999, adding that those years of interaction provided her with clear perceptions of administrative responsibilities and public service delivery.
Adegunwa-Balogun remarked, “Since 1999, I have been closely associated with governance. These experiences have given me valuable insight into public service, its challenges, its impact and its sacred responsibility,”
She maintained that her emergence represents a broader commitment to the inclusion of women, the youth, and grassroots communities in the core decision-making processes of the state.
She added, “This nomination is not about me. It is about our shared responsibility. It is about the inclusion of women, youths and all citizens in shaping the future of Ogun State,”
The finance expert declared, “Our goal is simple: a state where governance responds to the needs of its people, where development leaves no one behind, and where prosperity is shared by all.”
She pledged to execute her assignments with transparency, high integrity, and institutional accountability while collaborating closely with the governorship candidate to deepen the involvement of rural and local communities in governance.
She concluded, “I commit to serving with integrity, accountability and deep respect for every citizen. I will work to bridge the gap between government and the grassroots, ensuring that policies reflect the needs and aspirations of our communities,”
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