With Governor Dapo Abiodun leaving office in 2027, political heavyweights and zoning debates heat up as Ogun prepares for a new governor.

 

Since its creation in 1976, Ogun State has been a battleground where zoning and the politics of power rotation have consistently influenced the choice of who becomes governor. The state is divided into three senatorial zones — Ogun East, Ogun Central, and Ogun West — and over the years, both politicians and stakeholders have argued that equity requires a fair rotation of the governorship seat among these blocs.

From Chief Olusegun Osoba of Ogun Central to Otunba Gbenga Daniel from Ogun East, and Senator Ibikunle Amosun, also from Ogun Central, the pattern shows dominance by certain regions while leaving Ogun West without a taste of power. Even in 2019 and 2023, zoning became a heated debate as aspirants from Ogun West pushed for recognition but were outmaneuvered by stronger political alliances.

Political observers believe that the inability of Ogun West to produce a governor in nearly five decades is linked to deep divisions within its constituent groups and the inability to forge a united front. Each election cycle, multiple aspirants emerge from the district, splitting the votes and giving advantage to rivals from other zones.

The 2027 race has once again revived the zoning debate, with strong agitation that it is finally the turn of Ogun West. Whether this agitation will succeed depends largely on the unity of leaders from the district, the influence of political godfathers, and how parties eventually structure their tickets. If Ogun West manages to consolidate its political base, the long-standing dream of producing a governor may finally become a reality.

By Naijajistreal96