...Accuses Those Behind Alleged Endorsement of Being Dissidents, Claims They Are Not Representing the Party in Ogun
The Ogun State Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Hon. Femi Alao, has denied reports that the party in the state is endorsing the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Alao, who spoke in an exclusive telephone interview with Newswheeler on Friday, October 16, 2026, described those allegedly planning the endorsement as dissidents who do not represent the official position of the party in Ogun State.
He alleged that the individuals involved were acting independently of the party’s leadership and questioned their authority to make such a political decision on behalf of the NDC.
The NDC chairman acknowledged that the name of the party’s governorship candidate was not currently on the list published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He, however, maintained that if the commission eventually excludes the party’s governorship candidate from the list, the decision on the political direction the NDC should take would rest solely with its national leadership.
“Even though the name of our governorship candidate is not on the INEC list as of now, if, at the end of the day, INEC does not include our gubernatorial candidate, it is only the national leaders of the party who can give a directive on where we should go,” Alao said.
He insisted that no individual or group within the state chapter had the authority to announce an endorsement of another party’s candidate without the approval of the appropriate party leadership.
Alao further alleged that those behind the purported endorsement were motivated by financial considerations, claiming that they intended to collect money from Senator Yayi and present their actions as an endorsement by the NDC.
According to him, the meeting at which the alleged endorsement was discussed was held on Thursday, October 15, 2026, but those who attended were not acting on behalf of the recognised NDC structure in Ogun State.
He also claimed that some of the participants were members of the Obidient Movement rather than members representing the party’s official state leadership.
The NDC chairman's comments come amid political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, with parties and political groups positioning themselves for the forthcoming polls.
Alao maintained that the Ogun State chapter of the NDC had not endorsed Senator Yayi and reiterated that any decision concerning the party’s political alliance or next course of action would have to come from its national leadership.
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