Port Harcourt Rally For Tinubu: Hunye’s Appearance Rekindles Ogun APC Power Struggle

The appearance of Ogun State All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant, Hon. Abayomi Hunye, at the rally in support of President Bola Tinubu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has brought renewed attention to his political standing amid the lingering controversy over his alleged suspension from the ruling party.

Hunye was among political figures who attended the rally on Saturday, November 7, as supporters and party stakeholders gathered at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium to mobilise support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

His presence at the high-profile gathering has provided fresh political talking points in Ogun State, where the former Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives is seeking the APC governorship ticket amid an increasingly contentious contest over the party’s leadership and candidate-selection process.

For Hunye and his supporters, the appearance underscores his continued participation in national political mobilisation and his determination to remain engaged in the APC’s political activities.

The development has also revived questions about the circumstances surrounding the dispute over his membership status and the wider implications for the party’s internal cohesion in Ogun State.

Suspension Controversy Returns to Spotlight

The debate over Hunye’s political standing has persisted since the Ogun APC controversy intensified ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

In August, the APC sought police investigation into allegations of impersonation against Hunye, maintaining that he had been suspended from the party. The party also challenged his claims concerning the governorship race.

Hunye’s camp, however, has contested the circumstances surrounding his exclusion from the party’s governorship primary and maintained that the issues raised against him should be addressed through due process.

His participation in the Port Harcourt rally has consequently become another talking point among political observers monitoring the Ogun APC crisis.

Although attendance at a rally does not, by itself, determine a person’s formal membership status, Hunye’s appearance challenges any suggestion that he has withdrawn from political engagement or abandoned his ambition.

For his supporters, the message is unmistakable: the former OGWAMA managing director remains politically active and committed to the broader APC project.

Ogun 2027: The Stakes Behind Hunye’s Ambition

Hunye’s governorship ambition is rooted in a longstanding argument about political equity, representation and the distribution of power in Ogun State.
A native of Ipokia Local Government Area in Ogun West Senatorial District, Hunye has positioned himself as a contender for the state’s top political office at a time when questions of zoning, fairness and regional representation are central to conversations about the 2027 election.

Ogun State is divided into three senatorial districts: Ogun Central, Ogun East and Ogun West. While political interests across the state continue to compete for influence, advocates of Ogun West’s governorship aspiration argue that the district deserves a fair opportunity to produce the next governor.

Hunye’s supporters have consistently framed his candidacy around this demand for equitable representation, arguing that the state’s development should be accompanied by a political arrangement that gives every senatorial district a meaningful opportunity to lead.

His emergence as a governorship aspirant has therefore become part of a broader debate about whether the APC can reconcile competing interests while maintaining unity ahead of the next election.

For Hunye, the contest is not merely about securing a party ticket. It is also about persuading party members and voters that Ogun West should receive serious consideration in the state’s political calculations.

Tinubu’s Re-election and Ogun APC Unity
Hunye’s participation in the Port Harcourt rally also aligns with his previously stated support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

In September, the governorship aspirant joined political stakeholders at a rally organised by the Coalition of Registered Political Parties in Abeokuta, where he urged Nigerians to support the President and called for votes for APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

At the event, Hunye praised Tinubu’s approach to infrastructure and economic development and expressed optimism that continued support for the APC would benefit Ogun State.

His participation in the Rivers rally reinforces that publicly stated position and places his activities within the broader political mobilisation surrounding Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

The Port Harcourt event brought together prominent political leaders and supporters, with the President appealing to Nigerians to use their Permanent Voter Cards to shape the country’s political future.

For the APC, the mobilisation effort is part of the broader attempt to consolidate support ahead of the 2027 elections. For Ogun politicians, the period also presents an opportunity to strengthen their connections with the party’s national leadership while preparing for the contest at home.

A Test of Fairness and Party Cohesion
The controversy surrounding Hunye reflects a wider challenge facing political parties: how to manage internal disagreements without allowing disputes over membership, primaries and leadership to undermine party cohesion.

For a party seeking electoral success in Ogun State, the ability to resolve such disagreements transparently could prove important in maintaining the confidence of members and supporters.

Hunye’s camp has maintained that fairness, due process and equal opportunity should guide the resolution of the issues surrounding his political participation.

His appearance in Port Harcourt has now added another dimension to the debate, placing his continued political engagement alongside unresolved questions about his status within the Ogun APC.