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The battle for Ogun Government House intensified yesterday as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, launched his 2027 campaign with a blistering attack on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), asking residents to vote out what he described as an era of “non-performance, corruption and misgovernance.”
Before a massive crowd of supporters who defied a heavy downpour at the Ake Palace Pavilion, Abeokuta, Adebutu framed the February 6, 2027 governorship election as a choice between continued hardship and what he called the “liberation” of Ogun people.
He promised that, if elected, workers and pensioners would immediately receive their outstanding entitlements, while multiple taxation, which he said was choking market women, traders and other small businesses, would be halted.
“Immediately we have been voted in, workers and pensioners will get their entitlements. We will stop the double taxation currently choking our market women and other traders. We will never surrender our heritage to those who will destroy it,” Adebutu declared.
In a speech titled, “A Call to Liberation,” the PDP candidate urged voters to turn out en masse, vote for the party and remain at the polling centres to defend their ballots against intimidation.
Adebutu said the election offered Ogun residents an opportunity to end what he alleged were years of poor governance and elect an administration that would make ordinary people direct beneficiaries of democracy.
The campaign flag-off virtually brought parts of Abeokuta to a standstill as thousands of PDP supporters, residents and party leaders marched through the state capital despite the rain.
As early as 10 a.m., supporters dressed in PDP colours began streaming into the Ake Palace Pavilion, singing solidarity songs and waving flags and banners bearing the images of Adebutu and his running mate, ‘Yemi Showunmi-Kolapo.
Another crowd had converged on the PDP Secretariat to receive the candidates alongside Senator Iyabo Obasanjo and other party leaders before accompanying their convoy to the campaign venue.
The procession clogged adjoining roads as supporters competed for space with motorists, while security personnel struggled to control the swelling crowd at entry points.
Neither the candidates nor their supporters dispersed when the rain came. Instead, they continued the procession, dancing and singing as the campaign train made its way through the city.
Unveiling his programme for the state, Adebutu said his administration would pursue a resilient economy and corruption-free public service, alongside improvements in security and grassroots governance.
He listed his priorities to include local government autonomy, regional development, physical planning and transportation, rural and urban renewal, agriculture and economic development, women and youth empowerment, sports, education, healthcare and social services.
He also pledged that no resident would have his or her livelihood threatened because of political affiliation.
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His running mate, Showunmi-Kolapo, said the turnout despite the rain demonstrated the depth of support for the PDP ticket, declaring that the party would end poverty and maladministration if voted into office.
“I want to assure you all that in Ogun State, there is freedom; relief is here — Itura De,” she said.
Recalling a previous PDP campaign that was also held under heavy rain, she told supporters that the party would gather again for Adebutu’s inauguration.
“Don’t let them deceive you. We will gather like this during the inauguration of Hon. Ladi Adebutu as governor. Egba people, stand by your own,” she said.
Showunmi-Kolapo argued that Adebutu should be given the opportunity to govern the state, citing previous governors, including Olusegun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun.
“The Adebutu family has been supporting and empowering the people of Ogun State. We want to tell the governor, Dapo Abiodun, that he should release the governorship seat. It’s Adebutu’s turn,” she said.
Ogun PDP Chairman, Abayomi Tella, also urged voters to rally behind Adebutu and replicate what he called the “Osun model” by voting and protecting their ballots.
“Ladi Adebutu stood by us,” Tella said. “Ogun people, let us use the Osun model. Stand by your votes.”
Tella also made remarks questioning the state of origin of political opponents and saying Ogun should not be governed by “strangers.”
Other party leaders used the flag-off to unveil campaign messages and mobilise support for PDP candidates across the state.
The rain, rather than thinning the gathering, became part of the campaign spectacle as supporters described it as a “rain of blessings.”
One supporter, who identified himself simply as Bode, said the weather would not deter the party’s supporters.
“Even if it rains fire, we will stand with the PDP, Adebutu and Iya Sunnah. Our votes must count this time around and we will rejoice in the end,” he said.
I deliberately did not elevate Tella’s “Ekiti man/strangers” remark into the headline or lead. It is potentially explosive, but without clearer context about whom he was referring to, it could distort the main story. The stronger, defensible conflict is Adebutu versus APC: workers/pensioners/traders versus alleged hardship and misgovernance.
