A former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun, Wale Adedayo says the All Progressives Congress (APC) has lost touch with the people of the state.
Speaking on a television programme on Monday night, Adedayo declared that the ruling party would be dislodged through the ballots in the 2027 governorship election.
Adedayo, who was LG chairman under the APC government of Gov. Dapo Abiodun, said that, with the present political realities, “APC is gone in Ogun state”.
He contended that the governorship flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ladi Adebutu, was the candidate to beat.
He further claimed that the forthcoming gubernatorial poll would bring about some “seismic changes” where “Ogun people will move in the direction (PDP) that a lot of people might not expect”.
He maintained that the ruling APC had been declining in numerical strength and losing popularity among the people across the 20 local government areas of the state.
According to the political analyst, the governorship candidate of the PDP, Adebutu would defeat Solomon Adeola of the APC hands down in the poll.
He disclosed that political permutations currently favoured the major opposition party, adding that major stakeholders across political parties, including the APC, were already shifting loyalty to the PDP.
Speaking on how the contest would pan out, Adedayo said, “we are not going to have any battle in Ogun State; we are talking about seismic changes, in terms of the fact that we are going to have an earthquake where people will move in the direction a lot of people may not expect.
“The way things are going now, APC is gone in Ogun state. PDP is going to be there in 2027 for a number of reasons.
“President Tinubu will have his way in Ogun but when it comes to the National Assembly, Governorship, State House of Assembly elections, PDP will completely have its way.
“There are seismic changes that are going on in the 20 local government areas and 236 wards. But it is not going to be a battleground or something people will kill or fight themselves for whatsoever”.
On zoning, Adedayo explained that the Ijebus had supported the Yewas 100 per cent from 2011 to 2015 and beyond “when genuine Yewa indigenes came to contest”.
“This time around, since genuine Yewa indigenes have been sidelined, pushed aside, we just feel that it is time for one of us (Adebutu) to go to that seat and he is the one qualified.
“We don’t have any problem with zoning. And that is why I said that in 2011, 2015 and on the line like that, we gave them (Yewa) our support.
“But someone coming now to claim indigeneship? He needs to prove his ancestry. Me, I am from Ijebu. I can show you where my paternal and maternal parents were buried.
“The fact that someone is in the National Assembly does not absolve that person of any blame because if my memory serves me right, at least one or two National Assembly members picked up by Police and charged to court are in prison currently,” he said.
The former LG boss stressed the need for the electorates to be well informed about the candidates they would be voting for, saying that “democracy is about informed decision before making a choice”.
Reiterating the readiness of the PDP to dislodge the ruling party, Adedayo said, “Right now, APC is declining in the 20 local governments”.
“Go to Ogun Central and see what is going on there; it is beyond what people are saying on social media. It is a seismic change, like an earthquake in favour of Ladi Adebutu”.
Adedayo noted that the political reality in Ogun is no longer the same as of the last election when the winning margin was 14,000.
He said: “we know what happened during the last election. In Dapo Abiodun’s polling unit, ward, local government and senatorial district, he was defeated there”. (NAN)