Adebutu’s Running Mate Rallies Ogun Communities For PDP

The running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, has mobilised residents of Obantoko communities in Odeda Local Government Area to support the party ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Kolapo made the appeal during a stakeholders’ meeting with residents and PDP leaders in Obantoko at the weekend, where community members declared their support for the party and its governorship candidate.

The meeting was attended by residents and party supporters from American Junction, Asalu, Akete, Akinyele, Akepe Oluwa, Kangudu and other communities in the area.

Some residents described Kolapo as one of them, citing her decision to live in the community and her previous interventions in local issues.

The PDP Chairman in Obantoko Ward, Ezekiel Adeleye, pledged the community’s support for Kolapo and the party during the election.

“You are one of us, and we will vote for you. I don’t want us to miss this opportunity. You live with us here,” Adeleye said.

He recalled Kolapo’s intervention when residents were raising funds to repair a transformer in the community, saying she contributed money to the project and subsequently requested a refund from those who had already contributed.

“This is our collective struggle. We will rally people to vote for Hon. Ladi Adebutu and all other candidates of the PDP in the 2027 general elections,” he added.

The Deputy State Chairman of the PDP, Abiodun Ogunremi, who represented the state chairman, Abayomi Tella, described Obantoko as a traditional support base of the party.

“We are called PDP communities for a reason, and we must prove our love for PDP again next year,” Ogunremi said.

He said the area had performed strongly for the PDP in previous elections and urged residents to repeat the feat in 2027.

Ogunremi also called on the electorate to reject candidates he described as strangers to the state.

“Ask them about their ancestry. They don’t have any in Ogun State. So, don’t give strangers any chance to rule over us and don’t allow them to intimidate you during the poll,” he said.

He also cited interventions attributed to Adebutu and his family in communities across the state, including the distribution of transformers, and urged residents to vote for PDP candidates.

A member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Fasiu Bakenne, similarly urged residents to protect their votes and resist intimidation during the election.

The PDP House of Assembly candidate in the 2023 election, O. Kenny, urged residents to support Adebutu’s proposal on local government autonomy.

“Stand by your votes. Odeda alone has an allocation between N300 million and N400 million. If the local government autonomy promised is actualised, just imagine the benefits that will come to us,” he said.

Also speaking, the PDP House of Representatives candidate for Abeokuta North, Obafemi-Owode/Odeda Federal Constituency, Dele Olaleye, said an Adebutu administration would support greater autonomy for local governments in the state.

“Your votes will make the effort by Adebutu to return local government autonomy in Ogun to be realised,” Olaleye said.

Addressing the gathering, Kolapo urged residents to mobilise their families, friends, neighbours and other eligible voters for the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.

She also highlighted Adebutu’s humanitarian interventions outside government, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Can you mention someone who remembered us during COVID-19 and was not in government and had no access to public funds? It is only Adebutu,” she said.

Kolapo urged residents to protect their votes and not be intimidated by inducements during the election.

“They may want to offer you money; the money is yours, take their money and vote for LADI,” she said.

She also urged residents to support Olaleye, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo and other PDP candidates in the 2027 elections.

Kolapo later led the crowd in the PDP campaign slogan, “Itura Tide”, meaning “relief has come”, as the meeting ended amid songs and chants from supporters.