Ogun state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has initiated a strategic peace-building effort within the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), offering government appointments and the refund of nomination fees to aspirants who agree to step down for consensus candidates.
Speaking at a meeting in Abeokuta with House of Representatives and House of Assembly aspirants, the Governor emphasized that consensus-building is vital to preventing the internal bitterness and financial strain often triggered by competitive primaries.
Under the proposed framework, the Governor urged aspirants to adhere to local government zoning arrangements to ensure equity and inclusion.
While maintaining that he has no intention of imposing candidates, Prince Abiodun signaled that the party would rely heavily on the recommendations of grassroots leaders to identify suitable consensus picks.
To cushion the impact for those who concede, the Governor pledged that the state government would compensate loyal party members with administrative roles, noting that several aspirants who recently aligned with party decisions have already been considered for appointments.
The Governor, drawing from his own decades-long political journey, urged younger aspirants to exercise patience and prioritize party cohesion over individual ambition.
This reward-for-loyalty model received strong backing from APC elders, including former Deputy Governor Gbenga Kaka and Chief Iyabo Apampa, who described the move as a pragmatic strategy to safeguard the party’s unity.
