The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Olamilekan Adeola, has selected Mrs. Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun, a seasoned private sector executive, as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election.
Her nomination was announced following a stakeholders’ meeting of the APC held on Friday, which was attended by Governor Dapo Abiodun, party elders, and key leaders.
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At the gathering, party officials confirmed that the deputy governorship slot had been allocated to Ogun East Senatorial District, with Mrs. Adegunwa-Balogun emerging as the preferred candidate from a pool of qualified contenders.
A native of Ososa in Ijebu, Mrs. Balogun brings decades of experience from the corporate world to the political arena.
According to a statement released after the meeting, she is an accomplished business executive and finance expert with over 30 years of experience across manufacturing, corporate governance, strategic planning, business growth, and operational management.
She currently holds the position of Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director overseeing Finance and Information Technology at Rite Foods Limited, a leading indigenous player in Nigeria’s Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector. The statement credited her with helping drive the company’s remarkable growth, transforming it into a business valued at more than N500 billion with an expanding production footprint nationwide.
Mrs. Balogun earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Lagos and later obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance from Bayes Business School in London, formerly known as Cass Business School.
Her professional credentials include fellowships of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). She has also participated in executive leadership programmes at Harvard Business School and The Wharton School.
Beyond her corporate achievements, she is known for her commitment to economic development, women’s empowerment, youth advancement, and sustainable nation-building. She has consistently advocated policies that promote industrialisation, institutional strengthening, responsible governance, and broader economic opportunities.
Speaking at the meeting, Governor Abiodun explained that Mrs. Balogun emerged as the choice of the APC governorship candidate after consultations and consideration of several capable aspirants from Ogun East.
While presenting her to party stakeholders for endorsement, Senator Adeola described her as a strong addition to the APC ticket, expressing confidence that her expertise and leadership experience would contribute meaningfully to the party’s agenda for the state.
Also speaking, Ogun APC Chairman, Alhaji Yemi Sanusi, said the selection was the outcome of extensive consultations carried out in accordance with the party’s zoning formula. He noted that Mrs. Balogun’s academic achievements, corporate leadership record, and contributions to entrepreneurship development distinguished her as an outstanding candidate for the role.
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