The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for deputy governor, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade, explained why he decided to run on the same ballot as the party’s 2023 gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu.
Akinlade stated that he chose to run with Adebutu to stop the All Progressives Congress (APC) and prevent Olamilekan Adeola from becoming the senatorial representative for Ogun West.
For the sake of a secure future, it was imperative, according to him, to prevent the APC from controlling the state.
“I decided to run with Hon. Ladi Adebutu for two important reasons. One, to stop the APC. This State needs to be reset by the PDP.
“Secondly, I will do everything within the ambit of the law to stop the Lagos West Senator in his bid to be elected as a Senator in Ogun West.”
Akinlade said this during a meeting he held with his fellow Ipokia Local Government indigenes to brief them about his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP, at his Agosasa residence.
In his words, Akinlade explained that the APC leadership betrayed his political father, former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, for failing to implement the sharing formula agreed upon by the factions of the party in Ogun, saying that was why Amosun did not stop his foot soldiers from pitching their tents elsewhere.
He said the Electoral Act signed by President Muhammadu Buhari had put an end to rigging, saying all the APC candidates will fail in Ogun.
Akinlade described Adeola’s candidacy in Ogun West as a slap on the people of Yewa-Awori and Ogun State as a whole.
He berated Hon Abiodun Akinlade and Gboyega Isiaka for accepting to step down for Adeola when they were handed the House of Representatives tickets, saying the two of them will definitely campaign for Adeola, whether directly or indirectly.
“The only thing the duo of Abiodun Akinlade and GNI can do is not to campaign at all. But if they refuse to listen, we will teach them a lesson with our votes. They will lose.
“We are Yewa-Awori. We are special, we don’t accept insults. Adeola’s candidacy is a slap on our face. We need to stop these insults. Even people from the North are calling to condemn this aberration. We must stop it.
“Don’t cast any vote for the APC. Give all your votes to the PDP. Let’s prove to them that we won’t allow anybody to rubbish us. We won’t fight anybody, but our votes will speak. They won’t be able to steal our votes like they did in 2019. They will all fail. We will do everything under the law to stop Yayi and to prevent the APC from returning. That’s why I’m on the ballot,” he stated.