Director general of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has endorsed Dapo Abiodun, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, for Saturday’s election.

Abiodun is Daniel’s kinsman from Remoland.

A former two-term governor of the state, Daniel is a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Daniel directed his supporters to vote for Abiodun, in a statement, yesterday.

He gave the directive shortly after Atiku appealed to Nigerians to vote en masse for the PDP)in the governorship and House of Assembly elections, tomorrow.

Atiku made the appeal in a video widely circulated on the social media, yesterday.

Said Atiku: “I express my profound gratitude for the massive votes you gave my party – the PDP, during the Presidential and National elections.

“As we move to the governorship and state elections on March 9, I urge you to come out in larger numbers to peacefully vote for PDP, from top to bottom.”

Daniel broke ranks with Atiku.

The former governor, who is not on the same page with the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Senator Buruji Kashamu, decided to pitch his tent with Abiodun.

Daniel had backed Ladi Adebutu, a member of the House of Representatives, who lost the PDP governorship ticket to Kashamu.

Said Daniel: “My dear compatriots, and members of Remo Resource & R Centre: you would have noticed my studied silence in our local politics in recent times, he said in a statement.

“I have busied myself with national politics having served the state for eight years. I have also been very busy supporting the ambition of the son of our great philanthropist in Remoland to become the next governor of our dear state.

“You, however, would have become aware of the court decision yesterday on Wednesday)  which did not favour him. Going forward, I have directed all our structures statewide to cast all their votes on Saturday for Prince Dapo Abiodun, another bona fide Remo son despite current party differences.

“I, therefore, enjoin all to please go and cast your vote on Saturday for Dapo Abiodun in the overall interest of our people. With best regards.”

Three major parties are in serious contention in the state; the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), APC and the PDP.

Adekunle Akinlade, preferred candidate of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, defected to the APM after he lost the APC ticket to Abiodun.

Amosun, who won the Ogun Central senatorial election on APC platform on February 23, has mobilised his structure for Akinlade, who is also a serving member of the House of Representatives like Adebutu.

In a new twist, Adebutu, factional PDP governorship candidate, endorsed Akinlade for tomorrow’s election.

The Sikirulai Ogundele-led faction of the PDP, which he belongs to, announced the endorsement at a news conference in Abeokuta, yesterday.

Ogundele explained that his group endorsed and declared support for Akinlade because the Constitution guarantees freedom of association. 

“Ogun is an important state in Nigeria and our decision has been informed by the need to sustain the state in the area of development which the current administration has initiated.

“Politics is about credibility, responsiveness and integrity, among others and we have found all these qualities in Akinlade.

“We believe that this development will enhance his chances of winning the governorship polls in the state,” he said.