ABEOKUTA — The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State has unveiled Dr. Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo as its deputy governorship candidate. The move signals a major step in the party’s preparation for the next governorship election.
The ceremony drew party leaders, stakeholders, youth groups, women organisations and supporters from across the state. They gathered to witness the formal presentation of Kolapo as running mate to the PDP governorship candidate.
Speaking at the event, held on Monday at the PDP secretariat,the deputy governorship candidate thanked party leaders and members for the trust placed in her. She described her emergence as a call to greater service and sacrifice for Ogun residents.
She pledged loyalty to the party and its governorship candidate. She also promised to bring her experience, commitment and passion for public service into rebuilding the state.
Kolapo said the PDP ticket offers a fresh chance to deliver people-oriented governance. She listed economic growth, youth empowerment, quality education, healthcare and infrastructure as key priorities.
“Our mission is to restore hope to the people of Ogun State. We are committed to building a government that listens to the people, responds to their needs and ensures that no community is left behind in the development process,” she said.
She urged party members to stay united and focused on victory at the polls. She stressed that grassroots mobilisation and voter engagement would be critical to the party’s success.
In his remarks, PDP governorship candidate Oladipupo Adebutu described his running mate as competent, experienced and dedicated. He said her emergence would strengthen the party’s chances in the election.
The candidate noted that her selection followed extensive consultations among party stakeholders. He said it reflected PDP’s commitment to competence, inclusiveness and effective leadership.
According to the governorship candidate, the ticket combines experience, vision and grassroots appeal. He said it offers Ogun residents a credible alternative to tackle the state’s socio-economic challenges.
The candidate promised that a PDP administration would focus on job creation, industrial development, better infrastructure and policies that directly improve citizens’ welfare.
Earlier, the state PDP chairman said Kolapo’s emergence showed the party’s resolve to present its best hands for governance.
The chairman urged members to close ranks and step up mobilisation across the state’s 20 local government areas. He expressed confidence that unity, hard work and sustained engagement with voters would deliver victory for PDP.
Party faithful at the event described Kolapo’s emergence as a boost to PDP’s campaign. They cited her experience, leadership qualities and longstanding contributions to grassroots development.
Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo is a seasoned media leader, businesswoman, author and public affairs strategist with over 26 years of experience in training, writing, editing and shaping narratives in Nigerian and international public life.
Her career cuts across editorial leadership, corporate communications, government advisory, entrepreneurship and political service. It positions her as one of Nigeria’s foremost voices at the intersection of media, business and governance.
As she steps into public office, she brings institutional knowledge, strategic insight and cross-sector credibility that few in her generation can match.
As founder, CEO and group managing director of Right-Dev Limited, one of Nigeria’s top strategic communications firms, Sowunmi-Kolapo has delivered high-impact communications solutions for major private, public and international clients.
She is publisher and editor-in-chief of The Point Newspaper, a national tabloid that has run for over 11 years. The feat shows her commercial strength and editorial conviction in one of Africa’s toughest media markets.
Her media interests also include Growth Trackers Initiative, a TV production company active in 12 states. She serves as president of Media Transformation and Empowerment Initiative, MTEI.
Sowunmi-Kolapo served as special adviser on corporate communications and strategy to Nigeria’s minister of finance and pioneer minister of industry, trade and investment, Olusegun Aganga, CON, under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
In that role, she led the rebranding of the then Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry into the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. The move signalled a shift in Nigeria’s economic governance priorities.
A trailblazer in the newsroom, Kolapo made history as the first female group business editor of The Punch Newspapers, Nigeria’s most widely circulated daily. In that position, she wrote over 5,000 articles and mentored award-winning business journalists.
She built an incentive and accountability system that kept the Punch business desk ahead of competitors from 2010. Her Monday backpage economic analyses from 2007 to 2011 became must-reads for policymakers, investors and commentators.
The columns earned her multiple nominations for NMMA, DAME and Informed Readers’ Club Awards. She remains an active voice in Nigerian economic journalism and currently writes the Monday Compass column in Punch.
In June 2018, through former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Coalition for Nigerian Movement, she joined the African Democratic Congress, ADC. She was elected its first female deputy national publicity secretary.
Within three months, she was elevated to national publicity secretary. She became the first woman to hold that position in the party’s history, a role she held until October 2020 when she stepped down to focus on media and business.
She is a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, a fellow of the West African Society for Communications and Administration, and a fellow of the Civilian Institute of Democratic Administration.
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