The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has strongly refuted claims that it has endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the upcoming August 16 House of Representatives bye-election in Remo Federal Constituency.
The controversy stems from social media reports suggesting the opposition party had abandoned its own candidates to support the ruling APC in the special election for the seat left vacant by the death of Deputy Chief Whip Mrs. Adewunmi Onanuga on January 15, 2025.
PDP Clarifies Position on Tinubu Endorsement
In a statement released Tuesday by Publicity Secretary Kayode Adebayo, the Ogun PDP emphasised that its recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid does not translate to blanket support for APC candidates in other elections.
The party explained that its backing of Tinubu is strictly based on supporting the power shift to Southwest Nigeria after eight years of northern leadership from 2015 to 2023, not an approval of APC’s governance performance in Ogun State.
“Our endorsement of President Tinubu would not affect our party’s candidates for the 2027 National Assembly elections and other state elections,” Adebayo stated, calling the social media reports “outright falsehood and a deliberate attempt to mislead the people.”
Criticism of Governor Abiodun’s Performance
The PDP took the opportunity to highlight what it termed Governor Dapo Abiodun’s poor contribution to Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election, citing INEC records showing that the governor lost both his polling unit and ward to the PDP.
According to the party, at polling unit 002 in Ita Osanyin, APC scored 112 votes against PDP’s 119, while in Iperu III ward, APC garnered 731 votes compared to PDP’s 794 votes.
Electoral Strategy for Remo Constituency
The Remo Federal Constituency, comprising Remo North, Ikenne Remo, and Sagamu local governments, will hold its bye-election following Mrs. Onanuga’s passing. The PDP, led by National Vice Chairman (Southwest) Kamorudeen Ajisafe, State Chairman Abayomi Tella, and 2023 gubernatorial candidate Oladipupo Adebutu, held its campaign flag-off in Sagamu on Monday.
The party dismissed suggestions that presidential influence would sway the bye-election results, describing such expectations as “a total mirage” and emphasizing that the constituency election is separate from the 2027 presidential race.
The PDP urged Ogun State residents not to interpret their Tinubu endorsement as approval of the APC government’s performance at the state level, maintaining their commitment to fielding competitive candidates in all other electoral contests.
