A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chairman of the Planning Committee of the Ogun State APC Campaign Council, Hon. Kayode Oladele, has declared that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, faces a two-pronged battle for political survival ahead of the 2027 Ogun State governorship election.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Oladele said Adebutu must first overcome the controversy surrounding his PDP membership before facing what he described as the ultimate test — the verdict of Ogun voters at the polls.
Oladele, who described Adebutu’s political “day of reckoning” as imminent, said the PDP candidate should begin preparing for what he termed his “political retirement” rather than making the APC governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, the centrepiece of his campaign.
According to him, questions surrounding Adebutu’s alleged omission from the PDP membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have created an additional hurdle for the opposition candidate, although the PDP has disputed the allegation and maintained that Adebutu is a duly registered member of the party.
Oladele said the membership controversy should be resolved by the appropriate authorities and, where necessary, the courts, but insisted that even if Adebutu surmounts the legal challenge, he would still have to face the judgment of Ogun voters.
“Adebutu has two hurdles before him. First, there are questions being raised about his membership of the PDP and whether he has satisfied the legal requirements necessary to fly the party’s flag. Those questions will be resolved by the appropriate authorities and, if necessary, the courts.
“However, even if his name ultimately appears on the ballot, he still has to face the people of Ogun State. That is the ultimate test. Elections are decided by voters and I am confident that when Ogun people compare the records, antecedents, programmes and visions of the candidates, Senator Olamilekan Adeola Yayi will prevail at the polls.
“So, whichever way Adebutu looks at it, the political clock is ticking. His day of reckoning is approaching. He should spend less time making Yayi the centrepiece of his campaign and spend more time explaining to Ogun people what he has to offer,” he said.
The former member of the House of Representatives argued that the 2027 governorship election should be a contest of records, ideas, vision and capacity rather than what he described as an endless fixation on political opponents.
“Attacking Yayi at every opportunity is not a substitute for presenting a credible programme to the electorate,” he stated.
Oladele further maintained that the governorship of Ogun State was not anyone’s entitlement, stressing that repeated attempts to occupy the office could not confer an automatic claim to it.
“Adebutu has pursued this governorship ambition for years, but Ogun State is not anybody’s inheritance. The governorship is neither a hereditary entitlement nor a prize reserved for any individual. It belongs to the people to determine who leads them.
“We will soon retire him politically. If the legal questions surrounding his candidacy prevent him from getting onto the ballot, that is one matter. However, if he crosses that hurdle and his name appears on the ballot, then Ogun people will decide his political future with their votes,” he said.
Oladele said his confidence in Senator Adeola was based on what he described as the lawmaker’s record of public service and engagement with communities across Ogun State.
“This is why we welcome a contest based on records. Put Yayi’s record on the table. Put Adebutu’s record on the table. Let Ogun people examine both and make their decision.
“My confidence is that Yayi will prevail because I believe Ogun people will judge the candidates on their records, capacity, vision and what they have actually done for the people,” he added.
He said the APC would continue to take its message directly to communities across the state and focus its campaign on development, infrastructure, economic opportunities and the future direction of Ogun State.
Oladele also urged political actors and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and keep the contest issue-based despite the intensity expected to characterise the campaign season.
“We may disagree vigorously, challenge one another’s records and campaign passionately, but Ogun State remains greater than the ambition of any individual.
“The political clock is ticking, and eventually all the speeches, claims and counterclaims will give way to the ballot box. When that day comes, Ogun people will speak. I am confident in the choice they will make, and I am confident that Yayi will prevail,” Oladele stated.
Source: Politics Archives – New Telegraph
