“If Adebutu Was Rigged in 2023, Why Did You Join APC”, Oladele Queries Senator Iyabo Obasanjo’s Vote-Rigging Claims
ABEOKUTA – A constitutional lawyer and former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kayode Oladele has dismissed claims by former Ogun Central Senator, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, that the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu was allegedly robbed of victory in the 2019 and 2023 governorship elections in Ogun State.
Oladele described the remarks as unfortunate, misleading and a disservice to the democratic choices freely made by the people of Ogun State.
Reacting to Senator Obasanjo’s comments during the unveiling of the PDP deputy governorship candidate in Abeokuta on Monday, Oladele said it was surprising that anyone with a rich democratic pedigree would seek to delegitimise the clearly expressed mandate of Ogun voters simply because she was not pampered by the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) during her stint in the Party.
“The people of Ogun State freely exercised their constitutional right in both the 2019 and 2023 governorship elections. To suggest that Hon. Ladi Adebutu was robbed of victory is to unfairly diminish the collective votes of Ogun voters who overwhelmingly chose the APC and its candidate at the polls,” he said.
Oladele also questioned the consistency of Senator Obasanjo’s position, noting that she willingly joined the APC years after the very elections she now claims were stolen from the PDP.
“It is surprising that Senator Iyabo Obasanjo would now claim that the era of election manipulation is over when the very candidate she is supporting, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, challenged the outcome of the 2023 Ogun State governorship election from the Tribunal all the way to the Supreme Court and lost at every stage. The courts carefully considered the evidence before them and affirmed the victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun. This reality makes her current position difficult to understand”.
“If she truly believed that the election was stolen, why did she later join the APC, purchase its Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms and indicate her readiness to contest the party’s governorship primary? Her actions clearly contradict her recent comments“.
“More importantly, the fact that Adebutu exhausted all legal avenues and failed up to the Supreme Court further exposes the inconsistency and hypocrisy in Senator Iyabo Obasanjo’s position and raises serious questions about her state of mind as well as the credibility of her claims.”
According to Oladele, elections in Nigeria are conducted under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with the participation of political parties, security agencies and election observers, stressing that allegations of widespread vote theft have remained mere political rhetoric unsupported by credible evidence.
“It is becoming a recurring tradition for the PDP to blame everyone except itself whenever it loses elections. Democracy is about the choice of the people. If the people of Ogun State had wanted Hon. Adebutu as governor, they would have elected him. Elections are won through popular support, not through endless complaints after defeat,” Oladele stated.
Oladele further stated that the opposition’s resort to allegations of vote theft was borne out of the realization that the APC has presented the strongest candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
“It is incontrovertible that the APC governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Yayi is the most qualified, the most experienced and the most popular candidate in the race. His track record of legislative excellence, grassroots mobilization, effective representation and commitment to the development of Ogun State stands head and shoulders above those of his opponents including Adebutu.
“The people of Ogun State are already familiar with Senator Adeola’s capacity, competence and achievements. From Ogun East to Ogun Central and Ogun West, there is a growing consensus that Yayi represents the future of Ogun State. I have no doubt whatsoever that Senator Olamilekan Adeola Yayi will defeat his opponents in a free, fair and credible election.
“Rather than peddling unfounded allegations about past elections, the PDP should prepare itself for another encounter with the electorate. The people of Ogun State will once again make their choice based on performance, credibility, competence and proven leadership.
The APC leader further described Senator Obasanjo’s declaration that the alleged ‘stealing of votes’ would not occur in 2027 because of her presence in the PDP as a clear indication that the opposition party has already begun laying the groundwork for another round of excuses ahead of the next election.
He maintained that Ogun politics has evolved beyond the influence of political godfathers and individual endorsements, adding that voters are now more interested in competence, credibility, performance and the capacity of leaders to deliver development.
“Senator Iyabo Obasanjo has every right to join any political party of her choice. However, her defection does not alter the political reality in Ogun State. The APC remains firmly rooted across the state because of its track record of governance and its commitment to the welfare of the people. No amount of revisionism can erase the fact that the PDP was rejected at the polls and will again, be rejected.
“The APC remains confident that whenever the next election is held, the electorate will once again make the right choice in the overall interest of our dear state. With Senator Olamilekan Adeola Yayi as our candidate, we are confident of a decisive victory because he remains the candidate with the broadest appeal, the deepest connection with the grassroots and the clearest vision for the future of Ogun State,” Oladele said.
