By Michael Adesanya
Following the parallel congresses of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, the deputy candidate of the party in 2023, Adekunle Akinlade has explained reasons why his group fell out with his former senior partner Oladipupo Adebutu.
Akinlade and the party’s governorship flag bearer in last year’s election, Oladipupo Adebutu as well as the former party Chairman, Hon Sikirulai Ogundele fell apart immediately after the supreme Court judgment that gave victory to Governor Dapo Abiodun.
The party’s bigwigs have been at each other throats since the fallout.
The most evident is Saturday’s State Congress which the factions held separately.
Akinlade, in a personal statement, said the parallel Congress was a conscious and deliberate line of action by all the Chieftains to say no Adebutu’s 2027 ambition.
He said Adebutu should wait and run in 2031, 2035 or 2029!!.
The deputy governorship candidate of the party in 2023 said the Chieftains had parallel Ward and LG congresses just weeks back, and they are currently at the Federal High Court in Abeokuta.
Akinlade said Adebutu is deploying billions to influence his aspiration at all levels, saying stakeholders such as himself and others have resolved to put “Ogun state first”.
He said the stakeholders would fight to protect the party, insisting that with the emergence of new executives, the party would commence running of the party soonest.
He said “The fact is that many of us in Ogun PDP are of the view that Hon. Ladi Adebutu should not and cannot run for the office of Ogun State governor in 2027”.
“We are aware that Hon. Ladi Adebutu is deploying billions to influence his aspiration at all levels, but as stakeholders in Ogun PDP, myself, Hon. Sikirula Ogundele who emerged as the State chairman at today’s state congress, Otunba Jimi Lawal, Hon. Dimeji Fabiyi including hundreds of our party leaders across the state have resolved to put Ogun state first”, he stated.
While analysing the political climate of the State, Akinlade said, “There is no way the incumbent governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun who is from Iperu in Ikene LG of ogun state will be completing his 8yrs term in 2027 God willing, and another self entitled Iperu man will want to be governor in 2027.
“So what happened today is a conscious and deliberate line of action by all us to say no to Hon. Ladi Adebutu 2027 ambition. He can run in 2031, 2035 or 2029!! Definitely not 2027.
“We had parallel Ward and LG congresses just weeks back, and we in court at FHC Abeokuta on that. We had a very successful State Congress today the 28th of September 2024.
“We shall fight to protect this party. PDP belongs to all of us. With the emergence of our party executives across the state at all levels, we shall commence the business of running the party soon. We are confident that at the appropriate time, the NWC of the party will intervene and call him to order.
“It is my sincere hope that PDP recognizes the sacrifices and commitment of thousands of our people over the years for this party. We remain resolute and committed to seeing that battle to a fruitful conclusion.
“We say NO to Ladi Adebutu strangulation of Ogun PDP and his ambition in 2027”.
