ABEOKUTA – The Ladi Adebutu Campaign Organisation has strongly rejected recent claims by All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Kayode Oladele that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is no longer the preferred political platform in Ogun State, describing the assertion as “laughable” and disconnected from political realities in the state.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Media of the Ladi Adebutu Campaign Organisation, Afolabi Orekoya, PDP accused Oladele of lacking the authority to speak on behalf of Ogun residents and challenged his assessment of the state’s political landscape.
According to the statement, the Ogun State chapter of the PDP has achieved internal stability and unity, in contrast to what it described as persistent internal crises and factional disputes within the APC.
He alleged that attempts by APC leaders to project political dominance through media campaigns do not reflect realities on the ground.
The PDP further criticised the internal democratic processes of the APC in Ogun State, alleging that candidate imposition disguised as consensus arrangements had created deep divisions within the ruling party.
The statement referenced the recent resignation of former Senator Iyabo Obasanjo from the APC, arguing that the development exposed weaknesses within the party’s internal structure.
The opposition party also raised concerns over infrastructure projects allegedly executed under the influence of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, claiming that some projects delivered across the state were substandard and overly publicised.
The PDP challenged Senator Adeola to provide evidence of previously announced distributions of commercial buses and tricycles to residents, alleging that many of the vehicles showcased during public events were no longer operational or visible across the state.
“It must be stated unequivocally that it is completely out of his place to make such a sweeping declaration. Kayode Oladele does not speak for the good people of Ogun State, he cannot represent their collective conscience, and he lacks the moral authority to dictate their political preferences.
“While his paymaster Senator Olamilekan Adeola on paid media narratives to create a false sense of dominance, the stark reality on the ground is that the peace, structural stability, and progress currently being enjoyed within the Ogun State PDP stand in total contrast to the chaotic, factional warfare tearing the APC apart.
“If Oladele wants to talk about fractures and crises, he should first look within his own house. The toxic internal democracy of the APC in Ogun State has reached a point where the party routinely executes the absolute imposition of candidates under the deceptive guise of a “consensus.”
“This high-handedness and lack of internal justice was laid completely bare to the entire nation in Senator Iyabo Obasanjo’s recent resignation letter, which stripped the APC of any democratic pretense. The APC is a house divided against itself, sustained only by state apparatus and political coercion, whereas the PDP has systematically rebuilt its house, aligning as a unified, formidable force ready to rescue the state in 2027.”
The party described the PDP’s governorship candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, as a long-standing stakeholder in Ogun State’s development, highlighting his philanthropic activities and investments.
According to Orekoya, Adebutu has donated more than 700 electricity transformers across Ogun State’s 20 local government areas and provided extensive palliative support during the COVID-19 lockdown period through donations sourced from his agricultural enterprises in Iperu.
He further claimed that Adebutu’s business investments currently employ more than 20,000 people within Ogun State and described his record in community development, healthcare, education and security interventions as unmatched among contemporary political actors in the state.
The statement praised Adebutu’s choice of a female Egba Muslim community leader as his running mate, describing the decision as evidence of his commitment to inclusiveness and equitable representation.
Addressing the issue of state of origin in Ogun politics, the PDP campaign referenced previous comments by Kayode Oladele acknowledging that Senator Adeola is not an indigene of Ogun State.
The party argued that Ogun State possesses sufficient qualified indigenous political leaders and rejected what it termed the “importation” of political actors from outside the state.
The party maintained that the support demonstrated for Adebutu during the 2023 governorship election remains strong and expressed confidence that the PDP would secure victory in the 2027 elections.
