It has been an endless war of words among leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State over the defeat of the party by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general election in the state.
The latest outburst came during a meeting at the party secretariat in Abeokuta, the state capital city, where the chapter’s chairman, Sikirullai Ogundele, attributed the party’s loss in the 2023 governorship election to alleged high-handedness of its governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu.
As first reported by Overtnews.com , Mr Ogundele accused Adebutu of fueling internal crises within the party and disregarding party leadership, ultimately resulting in the party’s failure to secure governmental positions.
He said: “The reason why we are not in power today is because of Hon. Ladi Adebutu. 90 per cent of the reasons why we are not in government today were caused by Hon. Ladi Adebutu and this is because of his high-handedness. He does not listen to anybody’s advice.
“Adebutu has been the major reason why the party has been failing since the 2019 election. I don’t think Adebutu himself is interested in becoming the governor.
“Atiku (Abubakar, former Vice President and presidential candidate of PDP in the 2019 and 2023 elections) came to Abeokuta twice, to plead with Adebutu that, we should put OGD (former governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel) on the ballot, but he refused. If we had put OGD on the ballot, the party would have won many seats at the election.
“Everybody was aware that Atiku came to Ogun State twice to beg him (Adebutu). (Former President Olusegun) Obasanjo, too, begged him, but he refused to shift ground.”
Ogundele has vowed to reclaim the party’s structure from Adebutu, emphasising that the PDP is not the personal property of any individual.
He stressed the importance of the PDP being an inclusive political entity, where every member is treated fairly and justly, regardless of their financial status or position.
Meanwhile, Adekunle Akinlade, the PDP deputy governorship candidate in the 2023 election, emphasised the need for the party to undergo significant repositioning, to effectively challenge the ruling party in the 2027 election.
“What we are saying is that, if we must win or perform differently in 2027, we must reposition this party. We must bring in everybody to this party, we must make everybody feel comfortable that this party is for all of us,” Mr Akinlade said.
“We must put the past behind us, we must put 2023 behind us and forge a strong front that can allow us to face whatever the future holds.
“The party must be more disciplined and our leaders must have the right temperament and good character.”
In response, Mr Adebutu dismissed Ogundele’s remarks as mere “sour grapes” from someone seeking personal gain.
Through his spokesperson, Afolabi Orekoya, Adebutu expressed his indifference towards Ogundele’s allegations, and stated that he would not engage in a back-and-forth exchange with him.
“The chairman is just on his own. Out of 57 state executive council members, if it is only the chairman who is saying that, then you know that there is more to it,” Adebutu said.
“We are not joining issues with him, he is the only one on that journey; he was the only state executive member that was at the meeting out of 57. That is to tell you that it is more of his thinking.
“Was it Adebutu that went to disrupt or cause violence at Sagamu where elections were destroyed? Was it Adebutu who gave the judgments at the courts?
“He (Ogundele) is crying foul because of his gain and enterprise; we are not perturbed, and we are not surprised.”
