2027: Ogun PDP Endorses Tinubu as Presidential Candidate

In a surprising political development, the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its 2023 gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, have formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as their preferred candidate for the 2027 presidential election. This endorsement was announced during the official flag-off ceremony of the Remo Federal Constituency bye-election campaign held in Sagamu on Monday.

Speaking at the event, the State PDP Chairman, Hon. Abayomi Tella, told party supporters that the endorsement of Tinubu was a strategic move rooted in regional loyalty. “Though President Tinubu is in the opposition party, we believe in supporting our own from the Southwest. Our support is for him because we want to consolidate regional representation at the highest level,” Tella said at the palace of the Akarigbo of Remoland.

Tella emphasized that the endorsement did not mean the Ogun PDP was abandoning its role as an opposition party in the state. Instead, he stated the party was aligning nationally while still preparing to wrestle control from the All Progressives Congress (APC) within the state. “All we ask for in 2027 is fairness and justice,” he added.

Adebutu: Our Problem Is with Bad Governance, Not Tinubu

Also speaking at the event, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, the PDP’s 2023 gubernatorial flagbearer, made it clear that the endorsement of President Tinubu does not translate to blanket support for the APC. According to him, the PDP in Ogun State remains staunchly opposed to the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun, citing widespread dissatisfaction with his leadership.

“I was with the President Tinubu in January, and I told him that we have no issue with his leadership and candidacy. Our fight is against bad governance here in Ogun State,” Adebutu told the gathering. He reiterated the PDP’s readiness to provide a viable alternative to what he described as “ineffective and disconnected” governance at the state level.

Adebutu further stated that the forthcoming bye-election in Remo Federal Constituency is an opportunity for the people to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the current APC-led state government. He said the PDP’s previous electoral performance, where it won 34 out of 35 wards in the constituency, shows the people’s readiness to reject the status quo.

PDP Unfazed by Defections, Confident Ahead of Bye-Election

Addressing concerns over recent defections from the party to the APC, Chairman Tella downplayed their significance, describing those who left as “politically irrelevant.” Among the defectors was Adekunle Akinlade, a former governorship running mate in the last election cycle.

“Do not be discouraged. Those who left—what did they really offer? Even their own polling units, they couldn’t deliver. They are not people of political weight,” Tella declared, urging party loyalists to remain focused and united as the 2027 elections approach.

The Remo bye-election, which follows the death of Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga in January, has become a rallying point for the Ogun PDP. The party presented Bolarinwa Oluwole as its candidate, with a promise to continue strong grassroots mobilization to reclaim the seat and send a clear message to the ruling APC.

Bolarinwa Promises Effective Representation

Speaking during the campaign launch, Hon. Bolarinwa Oluwole, the PDP’s candidate for the Remo Federal Constituency, pledged to bring quality representation to the National Assembly if elected. He emphasized that the people of the constituency deserve a representative who truly understands their challenges and aspirations.

“I am here to offer responsible, effective, and transparent representation. Our community has been neglected for too long, and it’s time to put Remo back on the map in Abuja,” Bolarinwa said confidently. He called on voters to support the PDP, which he said had always stood by the people.

His candidacy received a formal boost when the National Vice Chairman of the PDP, Engr. Kamorudeen Ajisafe, presented him with the party’s flag. The occasion was met with enthusiastic cheers from supporters, many of whom expressed hope that the party would turn the tide in Ogun politics.

Analysts React: Strategy or Confusion Within PDP?

Political analysts have described the Ogun PDP’s endorsement of President Tinubu as both bold and puzzling. While some see it as a pragmatic alignment with a popular regional figure, others question the consistency of endorsing a rival party’s leader while opposing that same party at the state level.

“This is uncharted territory. It’s not often you see an opposition party openly endorsing a sitting president from another party. It raises questions about the PDP’s internal cohesion and long-term strategy,” said political analyst Dotun Adetayo.

However, others argue that the endorsement reflects a new political reality in Nigeria—where ideology often gives way to regional interests and electoral calculations. With the 2027 general elections still over a year away, it remains to be seen how this decision will reshape alliances in Ogun State and beyond.