Now that Babatunde Lemo has declared: Has ogun central found its strongest contender?

— A New Political Equation Ahead of 2027

By Olalekan Shoyinka

As Ogun State steadily moves toward the 2027 governorship election, the political atmosphere is gradually transitioning from speculation to strategic positioning. Conversations that once revolved around possibilities are now taking definite shape through declarations, alignments, and quiet negotiations across the three senatorial districts.

In my earlier interventions — “2027: A Clarion Call to Our Leaders and People in Egbaland” and “Let’s Talk: What Are the Likely Implications If Ogun State Has No Egba Governor in 2027?” — I raised fundamental questions about political realism, historical lessons, and the need for strategic thinking rather than emotional agitation. Those concerns remain valid today, but recent developments have introduced a new dimension to the conversation.

The declaration of Dr. Babatunde Olakunle Lemo has altered the political calculation in a manner that deserves serious reflection, not only within Ogun Central but across the entire state.

BEYOND SENTIMENT: THE EMERGENCE OF A PREPARED CANDIDATE

For years, the debate within Egbaland has oscillated between agitation for fairness and the practical challenge of presenting a candidate capable of competing effectively on a statewide platform. History has shown that Ogun governorship elections are never won solely on sectional demands but on political strength, credibility, cross-district acceptability and administrative competence.

The entrance of Dr. Tunde Lemo into the race introduces, perhaps for the first time in this electoral cycle, a figure whose credentials naturally shift the conversation from “Can Ogun Central produce a candidate?” to “Can other districts ignore this candidature?”

A proud Egba son, Lemo represents a blend of heritage and merit. He grew up within the cultural and social fabric of Abeokuta, widely known among peers around the First Bank area in the Imọ axis during his formative years — experiences that grounded him deeply in Egba communal values. As an old student of Lisabi Grammar School, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, his story resonates with many who see him not as a distant technocrat but as one of their own — an authentic product of the city.

This identity matters politically because leadership in Ogun State has always required a balance between grassroots connection and institutional competence.

EXPERIENCE THAT SPEAKS TO GOVERNANCE READINESS

What distinguishes Lemo from many aspirants is not merely popularity or regional appeal but preparedness for governance. Having served at the highest levels of Nigeria’s financial and regulatory architecture — including his tenure as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and later as Chairman of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) — he brings to the table a rare combination of economic management expertise, policy exposure, and administrative discipline.

Ogun State today faces complex developmental challenges: industrial expansion, revenue optimization, infrastructure financing, youth employment and economic diversification. These are no longer issues that can be addressed through political rhetoric alone; they require technocratic understanding backed by practical governance experience.

In this regard, Lemo’s professional journey across public and financial institutions positions him as arguably one of the most governance-ready figures currently associated with the race.

IMPLICATIONS FOR OGUN WEST AND OGUN EAST

His declaration inevitably reshapes the political equation beyond Ogun Central.

For aspirants from Ogun West — long considered strong contenders within the ruling APC — the emergence of a credible Egba candidate introduces a competitive balance that could redefine primary dynamics. Ogun West must now rally around a consensus figure capable of mounting a formidable challenge.

For Ogun East, where established political heavyweights continue to maintain influence, especially with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Lemo’s entrance signals that the contest may evolve into a merit-driven statewide evaluation rather than a predictable rotational expectation.

Simply put, the race may gradually shift away from zoning arguments toward competence, capacity, and statewide acceptability.

THE CALL FOR STRATEGIC CONSENSUS IN OGUN CENTRAL

Historically, Ogun Central has demonstrated a higher capacity for political coordination compared to other districts, often speaking with a relatively unified voice at critical electoral moments. Across several election cycles in the Fourth Republic, political alignments between Ogun Central and parts of Ogun East — notably the Egba and Remo blocs — have successfully taken advantage of internal divisions within Ogun West, shaping the eventual emergence of governors in the state.

This history offers an important lesson for the present moment. Political success in Ogun State has rarely been accidental; it has been the product of organisation, timing, and strategic consensus.

As 2027 approaches, the challenge before Egbaland is not merely to demand representation but to sustain the tradition of strategic coordination that has previously strengthened its political relevance. The moment therefore calls not for competitive fragmentation but for deliberate alignment around a credible and widely acceptable candidate.

The question before political leaders, traditional institutions, and stakeholders in Ogun Central is straightforward: should individual ambitions dilute collective advantage, or should consensus be consciously built around a candidate whose profile already commands respect across political and professional divides?

Consensus is not surrender; it is strategy. Politics, at its highest level, rewards organisation, clarity of purpose and unity of direction more than emotional enthusiasm.

A CANDIDATE TO BEAT?

It may be premature to declare any aspirant inevitable, yet it is equally unrealistic to ignore political momentum when it begins to crystallise.

Babatunde Lemo’s entry into the race has introduced what many observers may describe as the “joker card” Ogun Central has long awaited — a candidate combining Egba identity, professional credibility, governance exposure and cross-regional acceptability.

If properly supported and strategically positioned, Lemo could transform the 2027 contest from a regional aspiration into a competitive statewide proposition.

The conversation now has moved beyond whether Egbaland desires the governorship seat. The real question now is whether Egbaland is ready to rally behind a candidate prepared for it.

Hon. (Chief) Olalekan A. Shoyinka (Ayinla Egba), is Convener, United Premier Movement (UPM), writes from Ward 5, Abeokuta South Local Government Area.

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