The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reaffirmed Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

The party’s clarification followed a claim by Abayomi Semako Hunye that he remained the APC governorship candidate for the election, a position the ruling party described as false.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by the state chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, the APC urged members, supporters and the public to disregard any claim suggesting that another candidate had emerged on its platform.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ogun State APC wishes to state clearly that Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, is the duly recognised governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State for the 2027 election,” the statement read.

The party said Adeola emerged from its governorship primary election with 304,055 votes out of the 305,287 accredited voters who participated in the exercise.

It added that Adeola’s name, alongside that of his running mate, Mrs Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun, had been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s candidates for the 2027 governorship election.

The development came after Hunye, during a press briefing in Abeokuta on Saturday, rejected reports that he had withdrawn from the race, insisting that he was challenging the process that produced Adeola as the APC candidate in court.

Hunye also unveiled Otunba Abayomi Odunowo from Ijebu-Ode as his running mate and said he would continue his campaign in line with electoral laws.

However, former federal lawmaker and APC chieftain in Ogun State, Kayode Oladele, criticised Hunye’s move, describing his pursuit of the ticket as an “exercise in futility”.

Oladele argued that the party had concluded its nomination process and forwarded Adeola’s name to INEC.

Meanwhile, Hunye, through a statement from his media office, clarified that he had not declared himself the APC governorship candidate, saying his position was that the matter remained before a court of competent jurisdiction.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Hon. Abayomi Hunye has never declared himself the APC Governorship Candidate.

“His position has consistently been clear: the matter remains before a court of competent jurisdiction, and the issues surrounding the emergence of the party’s governorship candidate are still subject to judicial determination,” the statement said.

The Ogun APC maintained that Adeola remains its candidate for the 2027 governorship election and advised the public to rely on official communications from the party and relevant electoral authorities.