Residents of Obantoko in Ogun State have pledged to support the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, in the 2027 election, declaring that Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, his running mate, is “one of us.”
Obantoko backs PDP ticket
- A large gathering from American Junction, Asalu, Akete, Akinyele, Akepe Oluwa, Kangudu and other communities in the Obantoko area made the pledge at a stakeholders’ meeting with Sowunmi-Kolapo, the PDP deputy governorship candidate.
- Residents and party supporters said their support for Adebutu was also an expression of affection for his running mate, who had chosen to live among them at a time when many politicians preferred to reside away from ordinary citizens.
- The community, already known locally as a “PDP Community”, promised to produce the highest number of votes for Adebutu in Odeda Local Government and across Ogun State during the 2027 governorship election.
- The gathering, attended by PDP state officials, ward leaders and Dele Olaleye, the party’s House of Representatives candidate for Abeokuta North, Obafemi-Owode/Odeda Federal Constituency, developed into an endorsement event. Residents pledged to support Adebutu and every other PDP candidate in the election.
Ezekiel Adeleye, chairman of the PDP in Obantoko Ward, said the community regarded Sowunmi-Kolapo as a neighbour rather than an inaccessible politician. He attributed much of her popularity to her generosity and support for residents.
“You belong to this community, and we will vote for you. We must not waste this chance,” Adeleye said, adding that her decision to live in the area had strengthened the bond between her and the residents.
He recalled that, several years ago, community leaders told her that residents were raising money to fix their electricity transformer. According to him, Sowunmi-Kolapo asked that the contributions already made be returned to their donors and personally supplied the funds needed for the repair.
Adeleye said the election represented a shared cause and promised that the community would mobilise voters for Adebutu and the rest of the PDP ticket. His remarks were met with loud applause.
For many residents of the densely populated ward on the outskirts of Abeokuta, Sowunmi-Kolapo’s choice to live among them, rather than in an exclusive estate, demonstrated her commitment to the grassroots.
PDP leaders urge voters to defend support
- Abiodun Ogunremi, the PDP deputy state chairman who represented State Chairman Abayomi Tella, reminded the audience that Obantoko had historically been a strong base for the party.
- Ogunremi said the area was described as a PDP community for a reason and urged residents to demonstrate their loyalty again in 2027. He said Obantoko had performed strongly for the party in the previous election.
- “There are six polling booths here, yet we are known as a PDP community. We will reproduce our last electoral performance,” he said.
- He also warned residents against efforts to impose outsiders on them, urging them to question the ancestry of such contenders. He alleged that some did not have roots in Ogun State and called on voters not to permit strangers to govern them or intimidate them during the election.
Ogunremi listed what he described as Adebutu’s contributions before holding public office, saying the candidate had supported communities despite not being in government. He also said Adebutu’s father had empowered residents and claimed that Adebutu had supplied at least 700 transformers to communities across Ogun State.
He predicted that poverty would be reduced and effective governance improved if Adebutu became governor, urging residents to reject hardship by voting in large numbers for all PDP candidates.
Fasiu Bakenne, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, similarly called on the people to reject intimidation and cast their votes for the party’s candidates at every level.
Local government autonomy becomes campaign issue
O. Kenny, who contested the state House of Assembly election for the PDP in 2023, reminded residents of Adebutu’s promise to restore autonomy to local governments. He said council independence would bring broader development to communities.
“Protect your votes. Odeda receives between N300 million and N400 million in allocations. If the promised local government autonomy becomes reality, consider what that could mean for us,” Kenny said.
Olaleye supported the argument, saying only an administration led by Adebutu could guarantee genuine local government autonomy in Ogun State.
He said the residents’ votes would be central to achieving Adebutu’s plan to restore that autonomy.
Running mate calls for mobilisation
The meeting ended with an address by Sowunmi-Kolapo, who was received with songs and chants from the crowd.
Speaking in her characteristically direct and passionate manner, she highlighted Adebutu’s charitable work carried out without public money. She asked residents to organise their relatives, friends, neighbours, colleagues and every other eligible voter to support Adebutu, Olaleye, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo and the other PDP candidates in 2027.
She asked the audience to identify any person who had helped them during the COVID-19 pandemic while being outside government and without access to public funds, saying Adebutu was the only such person she could name. She warned that allowing outsiders to govern would bring calamity and said the community’s heritage had to be protected.
Sowunmi-Kolapo urged voters to turn out in large numbers and guard their ballots. She said security arrangements would be in place and advised residents that, if politicians offered them money, they could accept it because it was their money, but should still vote for Ladi Adebutu.
She then led the crowd in the PDP campaign slogan, “ITURA TIDE”, meaning “relief has come”, prompting an enthusiastic response.
“The hardship has gone on for too long,” she said, stressing the importance of the presidential and National Assembly election, which would be held first. She urged residents to vote for Olaleye, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo and the other PDP candidates before casting their governorship votes for Adebutu.
