Ogun 2019: Adebutu Collapses Structure For Amosun, As Supporters Defect To APC In Ogun
Sen. Ibikunle Amosun and Hon. Ladi Adebutu
Strong indication emerged on Wednesday that, the embattled House of Representatives member representing Remo federal constituency in Ogun State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu may have finally jettisoned his governorship to support the preferred governorship candidate of Governor Ibikunle Amosun in Allied People’s Movement (APM).
Adebutu, a PDP chieftain, is at loggerheads with Senator Buruji Kashamu over the party’s governorship ticket in the state.
With INEC’s insistence recognizing Senator Kashamu as the PDP governorship candidate barely nine days to the commencement of the general elections, Hon. Adebutu may have accepted his fate and teamed up with Amosun to play spoiler for his party’s candidate.
Adebutu, who in recent times accused his kinsman, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, for allegedly influencing court judgement in favour of Senator Kashamu to scuttle his gubernatorial ambition has continued to intensify his campaign despite not on the INEC list.
L-R: Chief Dapo Adeyemi addressing the audience while Mr. Ismaila Odejimi, Governor Amosun listened in admiration.
But surprisingly, thousands of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), members in Ogun Central senatorial district of state loyal to Adebutu defected to All Progressives Congress, APC on Wednesday.
The defectors, including a factional PDP House of Representatives candidate Mr. Owolabi Kolawole Balogun (OKB) and Alhaji Ismaila Odejimi, among others, led thousands of Adebutu supporters to the palatial residence of Governor Ibikunle Amosun in Abeokuta.
Analysts believed that the move by the PDP stalwarts in the state to Governor Amosun’s camp of APC has the blessing of their leader, Ladi Adebutu since the two political gladiators now have common enemy in Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Governor Amosun is not in support of the Vice President and his party’s governorship candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and has vowed to work against the success of his party during the governorship election for his anointed candidate in the new brewed party, Allied People’s Movement, APM, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade.
Adebutu, who has accused the Vice President of sponsoring court order against him which paved way for Buruji Kashamu, will also want to scuttle the chances of the APC governorship candidate who incidentally hails from the same hometown with him in Iperu-Remo in Ogun East area of the state.
Pundits however opined that, the move by the PDP leaders in the state was orchestrated by the governor to form a formidable force to support his governorship candidate in APM.
Speaking to journalists shortly after announcing his defection and loyalty to Governor Amosun, Mr. Owolabi Kolawole Balogun maintained that, he denounced his PDP membership to seek the right leadership in politics.
He added that the leadership style of Senator Ibikunle Amosun attracted him to the APC fold, urging his supporters to remain resolute in their new party.
The defectors, including Chief Dapo Adeyemi, said the crisis within the PDP in the state prompted their decision to defect to APC.
Adeyemi said, “Like they say politics is local and when the people at the local level cannot provide the right leadership, you have to seek the right leadership where it’s being and I want to assure you today that I’m contented with the leadership style of Senator Ibikunle Amosun and I want to tell you that, I’ve adopted him as my father and political leader and by the grace of God we shall deliver Ogun Central for his senatorial ambition.
“I can tell you that, I was a member of PDP in Ogun State, the LADO faction ,I am the candidate of PDP Abeokuta South Federal constituency. I’m leaving PDP, I’m not decamping ,I’m coming back to my house into the fold of APC into the camp of my leader, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
“We are coasting home to victory and I am bringing all the structure of PDP in Abeokuta South directly to my leaders.
“To my numerous supporters, this is where our future lies. We are not bringing numbers, we are bringing the entire house into this fold.”
When asked about Hon. Adebutu’s position on his defection, he referred our reporter to the lawmaker, saying “you can ask him when you see him.”
Governor Ibikunle Amosun who received the members described the defection to APC as home coming for the PDP leaders and their supporters.
Amosun advised the new members to work together for the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo in February 16th general elections.
The APC state chairman, Chief Derin Adebiyi described the defection of the PDP members to APC as a welcome development, pointing out that the party remained strong.
When contacted, Adebutu’s media consultant, Dayo Rufai said he would get back to our reporter, but as at the time of filing this report, he was yet to react to the development.
