…As Plot Against Osinbajo’s Candidate, Abiodun Thickens
There has been another twist to the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State, following an inter-party gang up in the works to ensure Dapo Abiodun who is the party’s torch-bearer in the 2019 governorship election never made it beyond the ballot, two sources familiar with the matter confided in The New Diplomat over the weekend.
Backed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Abiodun’s emergence has been enmeshed in nauseating controversies, having benefitted from the alleged deep rooted perfidy witnessed in the APC’s primaries across boards as supervised by the party Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.
Despite several reconciliatory moves by the party to placate Governor Ibikunle Amosun whose candidate, Adekunle Akinlade lost out in the race, it appears none is sinking at the moment as the Governor; a faction of the Ogun Peoples Democratic Party and some political parties are currently in talks over a deal to stop Abiodun from becoming the helmsman at Oke-Mosan government office next year.
A source who is an APC party chieftain in the state said, whereas, the disenchanted Governor together with aggrieved chieftains of the party are ready to work for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari, “they’re throwing caution into the winds to back the candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, (otherwise known as GNI).”
Speaking on reasons why the Governor is considering backing GNI, he said “Amosun is looking for someone who will give him a safe landing when his tenure elapses in May and he’s seeing that in GNI. Of course, you will expect that to be part of the agreement anyway.
“Also, don’t forget that his candidate who was schemed out hails from Ogun West same as GNI who appeared to be the most formidable guber candidate from Yewa/Awori. What this will do is ensure block vote from there, as against Ogun East that is fielding 3 strong candidates Abiodun, Paseeda (SDP), and Leke Shittu from Kashamu’s faction of the PDP,” another source said.
Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, had on Saturday endorsed ADC’s candidate, GNI, describing him as “good, credible and worthy candidate” to govern the state in 2019.
The New Diplomat recalls the publishing of candidate names submitted to INEC by the Buruji Kashamu’s faction of the PDP in Ogun has further outraged the Ogundele Sikirulai-led faction, deepening the crisis in the state’s PDP.
The development, it was gathered has made the Sikirulai-led faction to rev up its machinery and structure against PDP torch-bear, Shittu, and instead weighing the option of joining force with Governor Amosun, Obasanjo and other allied forces to support GNI, if its preferred candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu fails to reclaim the PDP ticket before INEC deadline for changing of candidate’s name.
