Abiodun Urges Ogun Monarchs to Champion Peace, Responsible Participation Ahead of 2027 Elections!
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has called on traditional rulers across the state to use their influence at the grassroots to promote peace, unity and responsible democratic participation as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The governor’s appeal underscores the increasingly important role of traditional institutions in maintaining social cohesion and preventing political tensions from escalating at the community level. With the 2027 elections already shaping political calculations across Ogun State, monarchs are expected to play a stabilising role by encouraging their subjects to participate in the electoral process peacefully and responsibly.
Abiodun’s position is particularly significant in a state where traditional rulers remain influential custodians of community values and important links between government and citizens. The governor has repeatedly described traditional rulers as critical partners in governance because of their proximity to the people and their understanding of local concerns.
The call for peaceful political participation also comes against the backdrop of growing political activity in Ogun State, where parties and aspirants are already positioning themselves for the next governorship contest and other elective offices.
Monarchs and the Grassroots Role
Traditional rulers occupy a distinctive position in Nigeria’s political and social structure. Although they do not ordinarily contest elections or exercise formal partisan authority, their influence within communities can affect public attitudes towards political participation, conflict resolution and peaceful coexistence.
In Ogun, that influence is particularly pronounced because the state has a deeply established traditional institution comprising Obas, Baales and other community leaders across its local government areas.
Abiodun has previously stressed the importance of this grassroots influence. In September 2024, he told members of the Technical Committee of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council that traditional rulers were more than ceremonial figures, describing them as a bridge between government and the people and pillars of stability, unity and progress.
That position is relevant to the approaching 2027 elections, as political campaigns are expected to become increasingly active at ward, local government and community levels.
The governor’s message places responsibility on monarchs to discourage inflammatory rhetoric, political violence and actions capable of dividing communities along ethnic, religious or partisan lines.
Ogun’s 2027 Political Landscape
The call comes at a time when political succession has become one of the most closely watched issues in Ogun State.
Abiodun, who became governor in 2019 and is serving his second term, is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term. Consequently, the question of who succeeds him has become a major focus of political discussions across the state.
The All Progressives Congress has already settled on Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election. Adeola represents Ogun West in the Senate and is seeking to become the first elected governor from the Ogun West Senatorial District since the creation of the state.
At a July 2026 meeting at the Awujale’s Palace in Ijebu-Ode, Abiodun formally presented Adeola and his running mate, Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun, to the Ijebu Traditional Council and sought the support and blessings of the traditional rulers.
Abiodun explained that his preference for Adeola was influenced by what he described as equity and competence, arguing that Ogun West deserved the opportunity to produce the state’s governor.
The political significance of that argument is considerable. Ogun’s four major geographical and cultural blocs—Egba, Ijebu, Remo and Yewa—have historically featured prominently in debates about political power and rotation within the state.
A recent analysis by The Guardian highlighted the renewed debate over power rotation, noting that both Ijebu and Yewa political interests have raised questions about the distribution of the governorship since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
Against this backdrop, the governor’s appeal for peace takes on added importance as competing interests seek influence ahead of the election.
Ijebu Monarchs Back Adeola
The political engagement between the Abiodun administration and traditional institutions has already produced significant developments.
The Ijebu Traditional Council of Obas, comprising 56 traditional rulers, endorsed Adeola and his running mate following their presentation at the Awujale’s Palace. The council also backed Abiodun’s reported ambition to represent Ogun East Senatorial District in the Senate after leaving office as governor.
The development was reported by several Nigerian media organisations, including The Nation, Tribune, P.M. News, The Guardian and Premium Times.
Premium Times reported that Adeola pledged to build on the achievements of the Abiodun administration while pursuing projects aimed at unlocking Ogun’s economic potential. The report also said Adeola pledged support for the agitation for the creation of Ijebu State and promised equitable development for Ijebuland.
The endorsements demonstrate the political importance of traditional institutions in Ogun’s electoral environment. However, such developments also reinforce the need for traditional rulers to maintain a careful balance between exercising their social influence and preserving the credibility of their institutions.
Peaceful Elections Beyond Party Politics
For Ogun State, maintaining peace during the electoral period will require more than appeals from political leaders.
The responsibility extends to political parties, candidates, campaign organisations, security agencies, civil society groups, the media and voters themselves.
Traditional rulers can contribute by encouraging citizens to obtain their voter cards, verify electoral information, participate in debates and campaigns peacefully, and exercise their voting rights without intimidation.
They can also help discourage the spread of misinformation and inflammatory claims that could create tension between communities.
The importance of responsible civic participation has been repeatedly emphasised by Abiodun. In May 2026, the governor similarly urged the Church to promote truth, peace and responsible citizenship as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections. He called on Christians to participate actively in democracy by registering to vote and exercising their constitutional rights peacefully.
The message to traditional rulers therefore forms part of a broader emphasis on peaceful participation in the democratic process.
The Need for Political Restraint
Ogun’s political history demonstrates why restraint will be essential as the 2027 contest develops.
Political competition is a normal feature of democracy, but competition becomes dangerous when disagreements are transformed into violence, intimidation, hate speech or communal conflict.
Traditional rulers, because they are often regarded as fathers of their communities, are uniquely positioned to intervene before political disagreements become broader social disputes.
Their influence can be particularly valuable during campaign periods, when political parties intensify mobilisation and competing interests seek to consolidate support across local communities.
For the traditional institution, however, the challenge will be maintaining public confidence while navigating an increasingly partisan political environment.
The recent endorsement of Adeola by Ijebu monarchs illustrates the extent to which royal institutions can become involved in political conversations without formally becoming political parties. The Guardian reported that Abiodun’s engagement with the Ijebu traditional rulers was part of his wider effort to secure support for his preferred successor.
That reality makes the governor’s call for peace particularly relevant. Traditional rulers can influence political participation, but their broader responsibility remains the welfare and unity of their communities.
Protecting Ogun’s Democratic Stability
As the 2027 elections draw closer, the ability of political actors and community leaders to manage disagreements peacefully will be an important test for Ogun State.
The state’s political contest is expected to involve competing interests from different parties, regions and political tendencies. While the APC has selected Adeola as its candidate, other political parties are expected to mount their own campaigns and present alternative visions to voters.
For voters, the central issue should ultimately be the candidates’ policies, records, competence and plans for Ogun’s future.
For traditional rulers, their most constructive contribution may be to ensure that political competition does not undermine communal harmony.
Abiodun’s appeal to the monarchs therefore goes beyond the immediate electoral contest. It speaks to the wider responsibility of traditional institutions in strengthening peaceful coexistence and democratic culture at the grassroots.
Ogun State’s 2027 election will inevitably generate intense political debate. That competition, however, does not have to threaten the state’s social cohesion.
If traditional rulers, political leaders and citizens collectively promote tolerance, lawful participation and respect for divergent political opinions, the election can become an opportunity to deepen democratic engagement rather than a source of division.
For a state preparing for another major political transition, the message is straightforward: political victory should never come at the expense of peace.
Sources
- The Guardian – Ogun 2027: Still a feisty contest between Ijebu and Yewa
- The Guardian – Abiodun presents Adeola to Ijebu royal fathers
- Premium Times – Abiodun presents Adeola to Ijebu royal fathers, says equity, competence guided his choice
- The Nation – 2027: Ijebu Council of Obas endorses Yayi, Abiodun
- Tribune Online – Ijebu Obas endorse Yayi, deputy for Ogun 2027
- P.M. News – Ijebu Obas endorse Yayi for Ogun Governor, back Abiodun’s Senate bid
- Punch Newspapers – Abiodun asks monarchs to promote peace, development
- Punch Newspapers – Promote peace in your kingdoms, Ogun gov urges monarchs
