ABEOKUTA — The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a blistering counter-attack on its former state Chairman, Dr. Sikirullahi Ogundele, describing his recent remarks about the party as the desperate “lamentations of a man whose political relevance has dwindled”.
The fierce reaction follows comments made by Ogundele during a grand reception in Ilaro, where he formally dumped the PDP to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) along with several former state executives. At the event, Ogundele claimed the PDP had “collapsed” and likened it to a “burning house” that no right-thinking person would remain inside. He also declared that the controversy surrounding the indigeneity of the Senator representing Ogun West, Olamilekan Adeola, had been permanently settled.
Firing back via a statement released on Saturday, the Ogun PDP State Publicity Secretary, Kayode Adebayo, dismissed the former chairman’s assertions with disdain. Adebayo alleged that if the state chapter had faced internal friction, it was largely due to Ogundele’s toxic leadership style.
Adebayo criticized Ogundele’s comments as the desperate cries of a politician seeking relevance. The PDP further blamed past electoral setbacks on Ogundele’s contentious leadership and failure of reconciliation structures, calling it hypocritical to criticize a house he helped destabilize.
Eyeing 2027
Looking toward the 2027 general elections, the PDP asserted that it remains unified and focused on reclaiming power in the state. Adebayo reiterated that Oladipupo Adebutu remains the party’s firm choice for the 2027 governorship race. Despite the defection of Ogundele and other former executives like Akinloye Bankole and Kemi Adeyemi to the APC, the PDP maintains its structure is intact for future political contests.
