Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Sikirullai Ogundele, on Thursday, blamed the party’s loss of the 2023 governorship election on the alleged highhandedness of its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu.
Ogundele spoke while addressing members and leaders of the party during a meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta, the state capital ahead of the party congress.
He accused Adebutu of being responsible for the crisis in the party, saying the reason the party was not in government was because of Adebutu’s high-handedness and disregard for party leadership.
Ogundele said, “The reason why we are not in power today is because of Hon. Ladi Adebutu. 90 per cent of the reasons why we are not in government today were caused by Hon. Ladi Adebutu and this is because of his high-handedness. He does not listen to anybody’s advice.
“Adebutu has been the major reason why the party has been failing since the 2019 election. I don’t think Adebutu himself is interested in becoming the governor.
“Atiku came to Abeokuta twice to plead with Adebutu that we should put OGD (former governor Gbenga Daniel) on the ballot, but he refused. If we had put OGD (Daniel) on the ballot, the party would have won many seats at the election.
“Everybody was aware that Atiku came to Ogun State twice to beg him (Adebutu). Obasanjo too begged him, but he refused to shift ground.”
Ogundele however vowed to rescue the party’s structure from Adebutu, insisting that the PDP is not anybody’s personal property.
He said the PDP must be seen and run as a political that is fair and just to every member, irrespective of their financial status or position.
PDP deputy governorship candidate in the 2023 elections, Adekunle Akinlade, said the party must be better repositioned to defeat the ruling party in 2027.
Akinlade said, “What we are saying is that if we must win or perform differently in 2027, we must reposition this party. We must bring in everybody to this party, we must make everybody feel comfortable that this party is for all of us.
“We must put the past behind us, we must put 2023 behind us and forge a strong front that can allow us to face whatever the future holds.
“The party must be more disciplined and our leaders must have the right temperament and good character.”
But Adebutu in his reaction, described Ogundele’s outburst as nothing but a “foul cry from a man after his gains”.
Adebutu who spoke through his spokesperson, Afolabi Orekoya, said he was not disturbed by Ogundele’s allegations and would not join issues with him.
He said, “The chairman is just on his own. Out of 57 state executive council members, if it is only the chairman who is saying that, then you know that there is more to it.
“We are not joining issues with him, he is the only one on that journey, he was the only state executive member that was at the meeting out of 57. That is to tell you that it is more of his thinking.
“Was it Adebutu that went to disrupt or cause violence at Sagamu where elections were destroyed? Was it Adebutu who gave the judgments at the courts?
“He (Ogundele) is crying foul because of his gain and enterprise, we are not perturbed, and we are not surprised.”