Dapo Abiodun
Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 29, 1960 Iperu, Ogun State, Nigeria |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, politician |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Known for | Governor of Ogun State |
Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun (born 29 May 1960) is a Nigerian entrepreneur and political figure currently holding the office of Governor of Ogun State since May 2019. Affiliated with the All Progressives Congress, Abiodun's political involvement began during the interrupted Abacha transition in 1998 and continued actively until his gubernatorial victory in 2019.
Originating from Iperu, Ogun State, Abiodun initially pursued a career in accounting before venturing into business during the 1990s. He has held key leadership roles, including Chairman of the board at the Corporate Affairs Commission, Managing Director of Heyden Petroleum, and founder of First Power Limited. His initial election as governor in 2019 was secured by a slim margin, with a comparable margin marking his re-election in 2023.
Early life
Born into the royal lineage of Iperu on 29 May 1960, Abiodun is the son of Dr. Emmanuel Abiodun and Mrs. Victoria Abiodun, hailing from Iperu Remo in Ogun East senatorial district.
His education includes attendance at Christ's School Ado Ekiti (1972), St. Joseph's College, Ondo (1977), and Ondo High School (1978). He pursued Civil Engineering studies at Obafemi Awolowo University and later obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Kennesaw State University in Atlanta, Georgia, graduating in 1986.
Career
Abiodun commenced his professional journey as a Cost Accountant at Glock Inc. in the United States between 1989 and 1991. Upon returning to Nigeria, he assumed chairmanship positions across various organizations such as Crestar Hydrocarbons Limited, OMS-Heyden Exploration and Production Limited, Heyden Petroleum Ltd (HPL), Alarmnet, Innovative Ventures Limited, and First Power Limited. Between 2012 and 2019, he led the Depot and Petroleum Product Marketers' Association (DAPPMA) as its chairman.
Public sector
Abiodun’s entry into politics dates back to 1998 when he was elected to represent Ogun East Senatorial seat under the now-defunct United Nigeria Congress Party, although this tenure was cut short due to the collapse of the third republic.
In 1999, he played a foundational role in establishing the Peoples Democratic Party and participated in the 2002 Ogun State governorship primaries, where he finished second. He contested unsuccessfully for the Ogun East Senatorial District seat in the 2015 general elections on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
In 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him as Chairman of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The following year, Abiodun clinched the APC governorship nomination and was elected as Ogun State’s fifth governor by winning in 12 out of 20 local government areas.
Upon assuming office, he introduced the Building Our Future Together Agenda, which focuses on five strategic development areas: Infrastructure; Social well-being and welfare; Education; Youth empowerment and employment; and Agriculture (I.S.E.Y.A).
In 2023, Abiodun granted pardons to 49 inmates who had served more than two decades, including elderly and chronically ill prisoners, while commuting three death sentences to life imprisonment.
On 8 March 2023, he secured re-election as governor under the APC banner, overcoming opponents Ladi Adebutu of the PDP and Biyi Otegbeye representing the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Controversies
Prior to the 2019 gubernatorial race, TheCable reported allegations concerning the authenticity of Abiodun's academic certificates. The report pointed out inconsistencies between his sworn affidavits submitted during his 2015 Senate and gubernatorial bids and the biography presented on his corporate website. These discrepancies cast doubt on whether he completed the compulsory National Youth Service Corps program, leading to legal disputes challenging his eligibility. Abiodun refuted claims that he asserted having graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University, dismissing the accusations as politically motivated defamation. Although the election tribunal later examined these issues, it ultimately upheld his election, finding no evidence of certificate forgery.
Following the release of the Pandora Papers, Premium Times disclosed that Abiodun was the sole owner and director of two offshore entities—Marlowes Trading Corporation and Heyden Petroleum Limited—registered in the British Virgin Islands. This raised concerns regarding a breach of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, as these companies were not declared during his electoral process. Abiodun refrained from commenting directly; however, a representative stated that he planned to wind up these companies but had yet to finalize the procedure.
In 2022, Sahara Reporters brought to light records from 1986 revealing Abiodun’s arrest in Miami-Dade County, USA, on charges including credit card fraud, petty theft, check forgery, and assaulting an officer while resisting arrest under the alias "Shawn Michael Davids." Although this information surfaced during his 2019 candidacy challenge, it had not been publicly disclosed before. Supporters of Abiodun argued that this incident did not disqualify him from holding public office.
Awards
As governor, Abiodun has been honored with multiple accolades, such as:
- Business Day Newspaper’s 2021 award for Best State Governor with Most Improved Security Infrastructure
- Nigerian Agriculture Awards (NAA) 2020 Best Governor in Agriculture
- Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) B zone’s 2022 award for Best Governor in Infrastructure in the South West
- Forbes 2022 Best of Africa Governor in Industrial Revolution recognition
- Nigerian Housing Award’s 2023 Best Governor in Housing Delivery
Personal life
Abiodun is married to Bamidele, his longtime partner since childhood, and together they have five children.
In 2017, their son Gbemiga Abiodun (known as DJ Olu), aged 25, was discovered deceased in his vehicle alongside a companion; the cause of death remains undetermined.
In October 2023, Abiodun launched a scholarship program benefiting 550 students in honor of his late son’s memory.