The political terrain in Remo North is shifting once more. Olasunkanmi Adetoye Ijaduoye, a former Special Adviser to a past chairman of Remo North Local Government, has announced his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC). The move adds fresh uncertainty to the local political landscape just months ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ijaduoye, who previously served as president of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), confirmed his exit in a statement, promising a full press briefing next week where he will lay out the reasons behind his decision and reveal which political direction he intends to take next.
The announcement has quickly become one of the more closely watched developments in Remo North’s local politics, not just because of who is leaving, but because of when.
A Second Departure in Quick Succession
Ijaduoye’s resignation comes only days after another prominent figure walked away from the same party. John Obafemi, a former chairman of Remo North Local Government and a former member of the Ogun State House of Assembly representing Remo North State Constituency, also announced his departure from the APC in recent days.
Neither Ijaduoye nor Obafemi has suggested publicly that the two resignations are coordinated or connected in any way. There is, as things stand, no confirmed link between the two exits beyond their timing.
Still, two politically significant resignations within a short window are rarely read in isolation, particularly in a local government area where control of ward-level structures and grassroots networks can shape outcomes in tightly contested elections.
Why the Next Move Matters More Than the Exit Itself
In local politics, a resignation on its own rarely tells the full story. What typically determines whether a political exit becomes consequential is what happens afterward, specifically, whether the departing figure is able to bring along organisers, structures, and loyal networks to a new political home.
That is the core uncertainty surrounding Ijaduoye’s decision. His scheduled press briefing next week is expected to answer three key questions that will shape how this development is ultimately interpreted:
• Why he left: the specific grievances or circumstances he cites
• Where he’s going: which party or platform, if any, he aligns with next
• Who follows him: whether other local political actors or structures move in the same direction
Until those questions are answered, Ijaduoye’s resignation remains, in electoral terms, an open variable rather than a settled outcome.
The Bigger Picture: Ogun State’s 2027 Governorship Race
These local developments are unfolding against the backdrop of a high-stakes statewide contest. The APC has named Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, widely known as “Yayi,” as its candidate for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election, while Ladi Adebutu is set to contest again on the platform of the PDP.
Ogun State’s political history suggests why local organisation in areas like Remo North could matter in such a race. In the 2023 governorship election, APC’s Dapo Abiodun defeated Adebutu by a relatively narrow margin: 276,298 votes to 262,383, a difference of just over 13,000 votes statewide.
In an election decided by margins that slim, shifts in local political organisation, even in a single local government area, can carry more weight than they might in a landslide contest. That said, a defection or resignation does not automatically translate into votes; its impact depends entirely on whether it reshapes actual ground-level mobilisation.
What Both Camps Are Watching
For the APC, the immediate concern is containment: whether these departures remain isolated incidents involving individual political actors, or whether they mark the start of a broader wave of exits among local organisers and influential figures in Remo North.
For the opposition, the interest lies in a different question: whether these political movements can be converted into functioning structures, meaning party organisation, ward-level mobilisation, and voter engagement, rather than treated as a symbolic win that doesn’t translate into electoral gains.
This distinction is central to how political analysts typically assess defections at the local government level. A high-profile resignation can generate significant attention and commentary without meaningfully altering how people vote. Conversely, a smaller, less publicized political realignment can prove more consequential if it consolidates previously fragmented networks or strengthens mobilisation in key wards.
Looking Ahead
All eyes now turn to Ijaduoye’s press briefing next week, which is expected to provide the clearest signal yet of where this political realignment is headed. His explanation for leaving the APC, his choice of political platform, and the reaction of other local actors will together offer a more concrete picture of just how significant this moment turns out to be for Remo North.
For now, both Ijaduoye’s and Obafemi’s departures have added new uncertainty to the political conversation in Remo North, but they have not yet altered the underlying electoral balance. That determination will come later, when political movement is tested against the realities of organisation, alliances, and votes cast in 2027.