Daud Olatunji
Nine transport unions in Ogun State have endorsed the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, for the 2027 governorship election.
The unions, under the aegis of the Transport Unions Alliance for Yayi, announced their endorsement on Thursday during a rally held at the Ake Palace Pavilion, Abeokuta.
The participating unions are the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, National Union of Road Transport Workers, Ogun State Park Management Services Limited, Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria, Articulated Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria, Riders and Owners of Motorcycle Organisation, Tricycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria, Three Wheelers Operators and Riders Association, and Riders and Owners of Tricycle Organisation.
The development brings a major bloc of organised transport operators into the unfolding political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Chairman of the planning committee and State Secretary of RTEAN, Aare Tiwalade Akingbade, described the endorsement as unprecedented, saying it was the first time, according to him, that the transport unions in the state had collectively endorsed a governorship candidate.
Akingbade said the decision was based on what the unions described as Adeola’s antecedents and capacity, rather than ethnic, sectional or geographical considerations.
He said, “This is historical because this is the first time we are coming out to endorse a governorship candidate.”
Explaining the basis for the endorsement, Akingbade told Adeola, “We are doing this not because we are only a son of a certain part of Ogun State, not because you come from a certain section that has been marginalised for the past 50 years.
“We are doing this because you are capable and we have seen antecedent.”
He said the theme of the event, “Consolidation of Proven Capacity and Competence,” reflected the unions’ position on the APC candidate.
According to him, the nine union chairmen had signed the endorsement document presented to Adeola.
“On behalf of all the transport unions in the state, we are endorsing you today. And all the nine transport union chairmen in the state have appended their signatures,” he said.
Responding, Adeola promised that his administration, if elected, would consolidate what he described as the development trajectory of the state and pursue further growth.
He said Ogun residents should expect what he described as the biggest development in the history of the state.
“I can tell you that the people of Ogun State are about to witness the biggest development in the history of this state,” Adeola said.
The APC candidate also said he would not allow what he described as personal interests to override the development of Ogun State.
“We will continue to grow higher and higher and higher and higher. We can never relinquish this state to mediocre, to power grabbers, to people who only want to satisfy their personal gain. Ogun State deserves better,” he said.
Adeola thanked the transport unions for their endorsement, describing their support as an indication of their desire for continuity in the state.
Also speaking, Governor Dapo Abiodun described the endorsement as “truly unprecedented and historic”, saying the gathering demonstrated unity among the various transport unions.
