PAhead of the campaign for 2027 General Election, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP structure in Ogun State faces imminent collapse amidst massive defection of key party leaders and their supporters to All Progressives Congress, APC following the emergence of Senator Solomon Adeola, aka Yayi as the consensus candidate of the APC.
The trend which gained traction following the emergence of Senator Adeola was premised on the massive infrastructural accomplishment and empowerment of tens of thousands delivered by Senator Adeola, the unappealing and insensitivity of an Iperu indigene succeeding another Iperu man after 8 years in the saddle. Equally cited for the calculated wise move is the lack of certainty of who holds the PDP structure due to many litigations between factions still ongoing in court.
Across the three senatorial districts, PDP leaders that call the shots in their localities have met severally with Senator Adeola to pledge their support for his gubernatorial ambition as well as join the APC. For over a month, the APC flag bearer has been receiving the throng of top PDP politicians in Ogun State
In Ogun West, his home senatorial district, PDP top shots including Chief Adesina Adejobi, Apex leader of PDP and Lisa of Imeko, a former state commissioner; Beere Ayodele Mujidat Balogun, former House of Representatives candidate and former PDP Director of Women Affairs and Grassroots Mobilisation; Hon. Lati Olorode, PDP leader and State Apex member, Otunba Ogunrinde Adebisi, former PDP State Ex- Officio and Chief Ayinla Ogunleye, all from Imeko/Afon LGA have pitched their tents with APC and Senator Adeola.
Similarly, Hon. Titus Soji Eweje (Asuje), an Apex PDP leader and Two-term LGA Chairman as well as 2027 House of Representatives candidate; Chief Mrs. Kemi Adeyemi, former PDP State Woman Leader; Mrs. Iyabo Akinbo, former Ogun West Senatorial Woman Leader; Chief Opeifa Samuel, former PDP Assistant Youth Leader; Elder Fatosin Taiwo, former PDP Assistant State Secretary; Prince Bamidele Adeyanju, former PDP 2023 House of Assembly candidate and 2027 House of Representative candidate; Alhaja Oritoke Ige, former PDP deputy chairman Imeko Afon LGA and Mr. Opeifa Johnson, a former PDP Assistant State Financial Secretary from Yewa North LGA, are now in bed with APC and Senator Adeola.
In Yewa South LGA, Chief Sunmonu Adewale, a former Yewa South Chairman; Omoba Segun Adewale (OSA) PDP Apex leader, former governorship aspirant and 2023 LADO Chairman of Strategy and Communications; Chief Abraham Adeleye. Chairman, Yewa South PDP Leaders Forum; Alhaji Taiwo Saminu, 2023 LADO Campaign Coordinator, Yewa South; Chief Olaseni Salako, former PDP House of Representatives aspirant; Alhaja Modupe Yusuf, PDP Apex State member and Alhaji Sheriff Adeosun, PDP leader and Chairman LADO Riders have all joined APC and Senator Adeola.
Ado Odo Ota is not left out as High Chief Ganiyu Dada, PDP leader and Senatorial Candidate for Ogun West in 2023; Prince Adewale Adeyanju, former PDP House of Representatives aspirant and Chairmanship candidate; Olalekan Waliyu Alli-Akinde, former PDP House of Assembly aspirant in 2023 and Otunba Ahmed Jinadu, PDP 2027 House of Assembly aspirant have all joined APC and endorsed Senator Adeola.
In Ipokia LGA, Asiwaju Akinloye Bankole, former publicity secretary and Campaign spokesman of Ogun State PDP; Hon Joel Bandele, PDP Ipokia Youth Leader; Alhaji Ghazali Aloko, former PDP chairman candidate for Ipokia LGA; Araba Ogunyanju, former PDP vice chairman, Idiroko Ward and Chief Isiaka Akin Olaniyan, former PDP ward chairman, Agosasa Ward have all crossed over to APC and Senator Adeola.
Ogun Central has also witnessed massive movement of PDP leaders and their supporters to APC owing to Senator Adeola accomplishments and promises. Recently among them are Hon. Taiwo Akinlabi, a former PDP chairman for Ogun Central; Comrade Oyejide Sunkanmi, popularly known as “Succo,” PDP State Youth Leader and former Publicity Secretary, who also served as the party’s agent and lead witness during the 2023 general elections; Princess Adejoke Ganiyat Sanni, Ogun Central Senatorial District Woman Leader; Mrs. Funke Oyekan, Abeokuta North Local Government Woman Leader; Hon. Ahmed Muiz Oladimeji, Abeokuta North House of Assembly aspirant; and Hon. Taofeek Ogunjimi, the PDP’s 2023 House of Assembly candidate in Abeokuta North.
Others include Mrs. Mojisola Fatoki, PDP Assistant State Secretary; Mrs. Ajoke Salau Maradona, former two-term PDP chairman in Ewekoro LGA; Hon. Taofeek Ejalonibu, former House of Assembly candidate; Hon. Duro Azeez, the PDP’s 2023 House of Assembly candidate for Ewekoro State Constituency; and Hon. Okiki Ogundele, the party’s 2023 House of Assembly candidate for Ifo Constituency II; Hon. Wasiu Alabi, Ward 16 leader; Amos Olushola Robinson, Ifo Local Government PDP Auditor; Hon. Oluyemi Kayode, Ifo PDP Youth Leader; Hon. Saburi Adebayo, party leader and Gabana Ugbah Augustine, an ex-officio member of the PDP in Ifo Local Government.
In Ogun East, many PDP stalwarts with their supporters have since pitched their tents with APC and Senator Adeola. To be counted among them are Hon Daisi Akintan, former PDP LG Council chairman; Hon Damilare Bello, member, Ogun state House of Assembly(Sagamu); Hon. Lukmon Adeleye, PDP member, Ogun State House of Assembly(Odogbolu); Hon Seun Adesanya, PDP member, Ogun State House of Assembly (Ijebu North East); Asiwaju Oluwaseun Tosin, former PDP chairman, Ijebu North East; Hon Ayorinde Fabregas, former House of Assembly candidate; Hon. Yomi Solanke, former PDP chairman for Ikenne; Hon Kehinde Alaka, member, PDP Apex Council; Mr. Olawale Kolawole (OLACASH) 2023 Assembly aspirant; and Adesola Ajayi, former Odogbolu LG woman leader.
Other Ogun East PDP stalwarts that are now in APC are Prince Lukman Ajomale, former PDP State Youth Leader and Director of Mobilization; Alhaji Abayomi Fowosire, PDP member who was a former NRC Deputy Governor candidate; Mrs. Bose Oduneye, former PDP Ijebu North Woman Leader; Mr. Badmus Busari, former PDP LGA Secretary; Prince Gbenga Oluyemi, former ADC Deputy Governorship candidate; Prince Mogaji Dele Ajayi, former PDP Local Government party chairman, Dr. Niyi Osoba, former Ijebu Ode LGA Chairman; Prince Akin Onalaja, former PDP Assembly aspirant; Prince Ade Alatishe, member PDP State Elder’s Council; Deacon Biyi Amu, former vice chairman, Ijebu Ode LGA; Otunba Tope Tokoya, PDP two-term Council Chairman and Michael Olowoporoku, two-time Assembly aspirant.
Earlier before the APC primary, key PDP figures along with their followers have abandoned the one-man crises ridden party for APC in the person of its state chairman, Hon Sikirulai Ogundele and Hon. Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade (AAA), former governorship candidate and former PDP deputy Governor candidate in 2023.
Reacting on Sunday through a statement by Chief Kayode Odunaro his
Media Adviser, to Senator Adeola the APC governorship candidate,
the driving force and motivator for the new APC members, assured all of them of proper integration to APC structures at all requisite levels of the party beginning from the ward and always ensure that APC official of the affected areas are present during the various meetings of the new APC members to guarantee promises of inclusion.
“Rest assured that you are fully accepted into our party as full members with equal rights of membership. My philosophy of party affairs and governance is that of inclusion and sense of belonging for all. I will never take your sacrifices and support for granted as we work toward a better Ogun State of our dream” Senator Adeola always assured each delegation of PDP leaders and their supporters
Senator Adeola stated that arrangements are being made for official declaration of the new APC members at a convenient date before the commencement of full political campaigns.
(Source: Daily Crucible)
