2027: How Governor Dapo Abiodun Can Secure His Place in History as ‘Jinx Breaker’

​ABEOKUTA – As the political atmosphere in Ogun State begins to gather momentum ahead of the 2027 governorship race, Governor Dapo Abiodun faces a defining moment in his political career that could see him shatter a decades-long succession jinx. While the Governor remains officially focused on his second-term developmental projects, the conversation across the Gateway State has shifted toward whether he can successfully navigate the treacherous waters of power transition that swallowed his predecessors.

​Since 1999, Ogun State has maintained a peculiar political pattern where outgoing governors consistently fail to install their preferred successors. This historical trend affected Chief Olusegun Osoba, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and Senator Ibikunle Amosun, all of whom saw their “anointed” candidates fall to rival factions or opposition movements. For Governor Abiodun, breaking this cycle would not only solidify his influence but also rewrite the state’s political manual.

​Central to this looming battle is the growing sentiment among grassroots stakeholders and party loyalists that Ogun State will not bow to a “stranger” in 2027. This narrative is gaining traction as a warning against the imposition of candidates perceived to be “external” to the local political ecosystem or those who have spent the bulk of their professional lives outside the state’s borders. Insiders suggest that the Governor’s ability to identify a successor who commands genuine local respect while maintaining party cohesion will be the ultimate test of his sagacity.

​The challenge is further complicated by the intense clamor for the Ogun West Senatorial District to finally produce a governor, a feat that has eluded the Yewa-Awori people since the state’s creation. To emerge as the ultimate “Jinx Breaker,” analysts believe Abiodun must balance these regional yearnings with the need for a candidate who is perceived as “home-grown” rather than an outsider.

​As various power blocs within the All Progressives Congress (APC) begin to align and realign, the Governor is under pressure to avoid the internal fractiousness that derailed previous administrations. The coming months are expected to reveal how Abiodun intends to manage the competing interests of high-profile aspirants and the demands of the local electorate, as his choice of successor will determine if he leaves office as a history maker or a victim of the state’s long-standing transition curse.