The Media Aide to the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, Afolabi Orekoya, has dismissed the composition of the All Progressives Congress campaign council ahead of the 2027 governorship election, saying the personalities involved will not intimidate the PDP.
Orekoya stated this on Tuesday while speaking during an exclusive interview on frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu where he reacted to the APC’s preparations for the 2027 election and the emergence of prominent political figures in the party’s campaign structure.
He said the PDP was not intimidated by the calibre of politicians being assembled by the ruling party, arguing that the election would ultimately be decided by Ogun voters rather than political personalities brought into the state.
According to him, some of the politicians being presented as key figures in the APC campaign were “imported from Lagos”, and their presence would not determine the outcome of the election.
“Having people that are even imported from Lagos, that are part of their campaign council, is none of our business. They can choose to have anybody, even from UK, from US, to be a member of their campaign council, but that has nothing to do with us. It’s nothing and we are not intimidated at all,” he said.
Orekoya said the PDP remained focused on the people of Ogun State and would take its campaign directly to voters across the three senatorial districts. He said the party was more interested in presenting its policy alternatives to residents than engaging in a contest over which party could assemble the biggest political names.
“We are resolute in ensuring that we get our people out of bondage in Ogun State. We are resolute to ensure that we bring back good governance to the good people of Ogun state. That is our focus, that is what we are facing. We are not interested in whatever optics they are trying to put up there. It has nothing to do with us, it is of no significance, and it is of no effect to us.”
Orekoya also dismissed the argument that the PDP was under pressure because of the delay in announcing its own campaign council. He said there was no law requiring the PDP to unveil its campaign council at a particular date, insisting that the party’s focus remained its message and policy agenda.
“There is no particular law or condition that mandates any political party to publish or roll out campaign council or whatever. What is key and important and that is very paramount is that how is the party ready to actually convince the people and provide alternatives for good governance,” he stated.
The PDP aide also said the growing support for the PDP showed that the party was gaining momentum ahead of the 2027 governorship election, citing the resignation of former APC leader, Hon. John Obafemi, and the involvement of other prominent figures. He said the party was focused on presenting an alternative to the ruling APC rather than engaging in what he described as empty political noise.
He said: “So it is not about the noise that you make. The empty barrel makes the loudest noise. That is not about what PDP is doing. What we are doing is we are focused, we are strategic, and we are actually talking to the hearts of our people to let them see reasons why we must deliver this state from the hands of these wicked people to let people see that Ogun State deserves better”.
Orekoya further pointed to the involvement of some political figures in PDP’s preparations as evidence that the party was already building momentum ahead of the election.
He mentioned Ambassador Folake, who he said had appeared on Channels Television, and Hon. John Obafemi, whom he said had resigned from the APC.
“Like you can see, just yesterday we had Ambassador Folake on channels who went there and, said things that people need to know about what the ruling party is doing to Ogun State and what the kind of person they are bringing to Ogun State. I’ve once said this on this station before now that we cannot allow a stranger to come and rule Ogun State. So if you have the caliber of people like that, you will see that, yes, PDP is actually moving. Just a few days ago, you saw that a resignation letter was published by Honorable John Obafemi who is formerly a standing leader of the APC who said he resigned his position from the party and is willing to, you know, go on with his life”.
Orekoya said integrity should be the foremost quality expected of anyone seeking to govern Ogun State. He argued that while people from Ogun State may have strong connections to Lagos, such individuals had continued to identify with the states where they had lived and built their political careers.
According to him: “Even the current governorship candidate of Lagos State, Hamzat, has a link to Ogun State but his life has always been with Lagos State and he continues to stay where he belongs, but not to talk of someone that has nothing, and because of that special interest of coming to take the wealth of Ogun State, he is now claiming citizenship of this state. That does not show integrity. That is lack of integrity. And we believe this is not good enough for Ogun State”
Orekoya also rejected the suggestion that APC’s support from former governors or prominent politicians would automatically translate into victory.
He said the 2027 election would be decided by the electorate and not by the number of political figures attached to a campaign council.
“We are connected with our people in Ogun State. Dr. Ibukunle Amosun had no former governor with him when he was contesting for the governorship seat of Ogun State, as a governor of Ogun State, and he won the election without any former governor being with him. So, we don’t need former this, former that. What we need is the good people of Ogun State. They have the power”.
The PDP aide further urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to remain neutral ahead of the election, saying the electoral body must not be used by any political party. He called on security agencies to prevent violence, intimidation, ballot snatching and other forms of electoral malpractice during the election.
He also urged Ogun State voters to protect their votes during the 2027 election, saying the people should emulate the resolve he attributed to voters in Osun State. He expressed confidence that the outcome would ultimately benefit the people of Ogun State rather than Adebutu or the PDP.
“I will appreciate the people of Ogun State to also see this belief and have that strong mind like the people of Osun State had and stand by their votes when the election is here. And at the end of the day, I believe the victory will be for the entire people of Ogun State and not even for Honorable Adebutu or PDP,” he assured.
