The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its 2023 gubernatorial candidate, Ladi Adebutu, have formally endorsed President Bola Tinubu as their preferred candidate for the 2027 presidential election, in a significant political development.
The endorsement was announced on Monday by the party’s State Chairman, Abayomi Tella, during the campaign flag-off for the PDP candidate, Bolarinwa Oluwole, in the upcoming Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North federal constituency bye-election. The event, held in Sagamu, also saw the PDP National Vice Chairman, Engr. Kamorudeen Ajisafe, present the party flag to Oluwole, who seeks to replace the late Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga.
Chairman Tella explicitly stated the party’s rationale: “We will support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Though he is in the opposition, let us support our own from the Southwest. Our support is for Tinubu, and we will stand by him. We are ready to give him our votes. The whole of the southwest will give him our votes… All we want in that election is fairness and just.”
Ladi Adebutu, speaking at the same event, echoed the endorsement of President Tinubu but delivered a stinging rebuke to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun. Adebutu made a bold claim about PDP’s support for Tinubu in the 2023 elections: “We delivered more votes to President Tinubu than Dapo Abiodun did.”
Adebutu clarified that the PDP holds “no issue with [Tinubu’s] leadership and candidacy,” having personally conveyed this to the President in January. However, he directed strong criticism at Governor Abiodun, accusing him of “bad governance in Ogun state.” Adebutu vowed that the PDP would vigorously challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state during the 2027 elections.
He emphasized the critical importance of winning the upcoming bye-election as a platform to challenge the state government’s perceived failures, noting the PDP’s previous dominance in the constituency where they “won 34 wards out of 35.” Adebutu asserted that the APC-led government had lost public goodwill due to its conduct.
The PDP bye-election candidate, Bolarinwa Oluwole, called on Governor Abiodun to ensure a peaceful and fair election free from malpractice.
The event coincided with reported dissatisfaction from the Ijebu-Remo Unity group, an independent pressure group. The group allegedly criticized the Abiodun-led APC in Remo for appointing non-indigenes to its 100-man Campaign Council for the same bye-election.
