By Mikail Mumuni
*Photo: Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola OFR (2nd right) and Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola-YAYI (2nd left), flanked by some leaders of Sarafa Tunji Isola Campaign Council on Tuesday, April 28, 2026*
In a significant political realignment ahead of the 2027 Ogun State governorship election, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and a prominent aspirant, has formally collapsed his political structures into the campaign of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.
All support groups previously backing Ambassador Isola’s 2027 governorship bid have now been rebranded as YAYI Support Groups.
*Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola (left) and Chief Joju Fadairo (right) presenting Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola to the Support Groups *
The development followed a formal motion moved and unanimously adopted on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, when Ambassador Isola and his support groups hosted Senator Adeola — the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus gubernatorial candidate for Ogun State — at the Ibara GRA residence of Chief Joju Fadairo in Abeokuta.
After the motion was moved and seconded at his instance, Ambassador Isola assured Senator Adeola of his total commitment, stating that he and his supporters would deploy every resource at their disposal to ensure victory for the APC in 2027.
The event came days after Senator Adeola paid a high-level reconciliation visit to Ambassador Isola at his Abeokuta residence on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, as part of broader efforts to unify the APC in Ogun State following the party’s announcement of Adeola as its consensus candidate.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Isola reaffirmed his unwavering loyalty to the APC and officially merged his formidable “Sarafa Support Groups” with the Yayi movement.
He described the presence of Governor Dapo Abiodun and former governors Olusegun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel, and Ibikunle Amosun at the strategic APC meeting where Senator Adeola was endorsed as a “positive omen” for the state and aligning with his vision.
Ambassador Isola recalled his repeated calls on the incumbent governor and his predecessors to end the “culture of hostile successions” that has long defined leadership transitions in Ogun State and was happy that this has been achieved.
“This is the third time I am stepping aside from my own governorship ambition to support another candidate. I have no regrets because the interest of Ogun State is greater than my personal ambition,” Isola said.
“I have been a strong advocate of the Yewa agenda since 2011, and this is the first time the Yewa people are coming together without opposition. This is the best opportunity,” he added.
In response, Senator Adeola expressed deep appreciation to Ambassador Isola and his team for their acceptance and endorsement of his candidacy. He commended Isola’s “maturity and magnanimity” in subordinating personal ambition to the party’s consensus decision.
The Senator also recalled with gratitude the 64-page policy document on Ogun State’s development earlier presented to him by Ambassador Isola, promising that the document would receive favourable consideration under his administration.
Both leaders agreed to adopt an inclusive approach anchored on continuity and the collective interest of Ogun State — a gesture that drew admiration from all present.
The alliance is being viewed as a major boost for Senator Adeola’s ambition, effectively ending potential internal rivalry within the APC, particularly between the Ogun Central and Ogun West blocs.
Political analysts believe the move has significantly strengthened Adeola’s position, clearing a major obstacle on his path to the Okemosan Government House.
With the backing of a heavyweight like Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola and the apparent support of Governor Dapo Abiodun, the APC now appears better positioned to dominate the 2027 governorship race.