Ogun PDP Unveils Ex-PUNCH Editor, Dr. Sowunmi-Kolapo As Ladi Adebutu’s Running Mate
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has officially unveiled Dr. Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo as its deputy governorship candidate, marking a significant milestone in the party’s preparations for the forthcoming governorship election.
The declaration ceremony attracted party leaders, stakeholders, youth groups, women organisations and supporters from across the state, who gathered to witness the formal presentation of Kolapo as running mate to the PDP governorship candidate.
Speaking at the event, the deputy governorship candidate expressed appreciation to the party leadership and members for the confidence reposed in her, describing her emergence as a call to greater service and sacrifice for the people of Ogun State.
She pledged unwavering loyalty to the party and its governorship candidate, assuring supporters that she would bring her wealth of experience, commitment and passion for public service to bear in the task of rebuilding the state.
Kolapo said the PDP ticket represents a fresh opportunity to deliver people-oriented governance that prioritises economic growth, youth empowerment, quality education, healthcare delivery and infrastructural development.
She called on party members to remain united and committed to the collective goal of securing victory at the polls, stressing that grassroots mobilisation and voter engagement would be critical to the party’s success.
In his remarks, the PDP governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, described his running mate as a competent, experienced and dedicated politician whose emergence would further strengthen the party’s chances in the election.
The candidate noted that her selection was the outcome of extensive consultations among party stakeholders and reflected the PDP’s commitment to competence, inclusiveness and effective leadership.
The candidate pledged that a PDP administration would focus on job creation, industrial development, improved infrastructure and policies that directly impact the welfare of citizens.
The chairman urged members to close ranks and intensify mobilisation efforts across the state’s 20 local government areas, expressing confidence that the PDP would emerge victorious through unity, hard work and sustained engagement with the electorate.
Party faithful at the event described Kolapo’s emergence as a major boost to the PDP’s campaign, citing her experience, leadership qualities and longstanding contributions to grassroots development.
Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo is a seasoned media leader, accomplished businesswoman, author, and distinguished public affairs strategist and consultant with over 26 years of experience in training, writing, editing, and shaping narratives at the highest levels of Nigerian and international public life.
Her career spans editorial leadership, corporate communications, government advisory service, entrepreneurship, and political service — a rare and formidable combination that positions her as one of Nigeria’s foremost voices at the intersection of media, business, and governance.
As she steps into public office, she brings to bear a depth of institutional knowledge, strategic insight, and cross-sector credibility that few in her generation can match.
She is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of The Point Newspaper, a national tabloid that has endured for over 11 years — a testament to her commercial tenacity and editorial conviction in one of Africa’s most competitive media markets.
Her media enterprise further extends to Growth Trackers Initiative, a television production company with an active presence across 12 states of the federation, and she serves as President, Media Transformation and Empowerment Initiative (MTEI).
Sowunmi-Kolapo served as Special Adviser on Corporate Communications and Strategy to Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and pioneer Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, CON, under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
In that capacity, she conceived and led the successful rebranding and repositioning of what was then the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry into the frontline Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment — a transformation that signalled a decisive shift in Nigeria’s economic governance priorities.
A trailblazer in the newsroom, Kolapo made history as the first female Group Business Editor of The Punch Newspapers — Nigeria’s most widely circulated daily. In that role, she authored over 5,000 articles, built and mentored a generation of award-winning business journalists through an effective incentive and accountability system, and consistently positioned the Punch Business Desk ahead of the competition from 2010.
Her incisive Monday backpage economic analyses, published from 2007 to 2011, became required reading among policymakers, investors, and economic commentators, earning her multiple nominations for the NMMA, DAME, and Informed Readers’ Club Awards. She remains an active and respected voice in Nigerian economic journalism, currently authoring the Monday Compass column in Punch.
In June 2018, through former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Coalition for Nigerian Movement, she joined the African Democratic Congress, where she was elected its first female Deputy National Publicity Secretary. Within three months, she was elevated to National Publicity Secretary — becoming the first woman to hold that position in the party’s history — a role she discharged with distinction until October 2020, when she stepped down to focus on her media and business interests.
She is a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, a Fellow of the West African Society for Communications and Administration, and a Fellow of the Civilian Institute of Democratic Administration.
