The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade's resignation as an "official confirmation of unholy romance" with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Akinlade, who was the PDP's deputy governorship candidate in the 2023 Ogun State election, announced his departure from the party on Monday, citing "persistent and unresolved internal crises" that he claimed undermined collective aspirations for a more inclusive and democratic party.
In a swift response on Tuesday, PDP's publicity secretary in Ogun State, Kayode Adebayo, dismissed Akinlade's exit, stating that the party "had nothing to lose" and accused the former candidate of secretly working with the APC government against the party's interests during the 2023 gubernatorial campaign.
"This same character silently pitched his political tent with the ruling APC government against the party's 2023 gubernatorial ticket by not actively involving himself in pre, during, and after electioneering campaigns and other activities of our great party," Adebayo stated.
The PDP spokesman further alleged that Akinlade's lack of commitment was "clearly evident in the results of the elections, even in his home local government area, Ipokia, despite the enormous resources deployed for the elections directly under his immediate watch."
Adebayo likened Akinlade to a "Judas" within the party, claiming he had attempted to create disintegration within the PDP ranks. "We are, however, grateful to God Almighty, that he has eventually found the balls to formalize his unholy romance with the ruling APC," he added.
The party also urged other members of Akinlade's "thoroughly disgruntled camp to make haste in their political voyage to perdition," asserting that the PDP is currently undergoing a renaissance expected to return it to its "original winning ways."
Akinlade's Camp Fires Back
In a sharp rebuttal, Akinlade's camp described the Ogun PDP as "a party at war with itself." Akinleye Olu-Philips, Senior Media Consultant to Akinlade, characterized the PDP's response as a testament to the "culture of blame-shifting, scapegoating and internal implosion" that has plagued the party for years.
"For over a year, the Ogun PDP has been in a state of relentless internal conflict, with parallel congresses, multiple factions, and blatant disregard for constitutionally prescribed processes," Olu-Philips stated.
He defended Akinlade's decision to leave the party, describing it as "a natural outcome of a toxic and dysfunctional party environment" rather than an act of sabotage. Olu-Philips called the allegations that Akinlade worked covertly for the APC during the 2023 election "laughable and cowardly."
"To describe a man of proven loyalty to democratic ideals, an astute political leader, and a grassroots mobilizer as a 'Judas' reflects more about the character of the accuser than the accused," he said.
Olu-Philips maintained that Akinlade brought "immense strength and strategic depth" to the PDP ticket alongside Hon. Ladi Adebutu in the 2023 election, and that the party's underperformance should not be blamed on one individual.
He concluded by advising the PDP to conduct "an honest self-reflection, and rebuild from its ruins, rather than issuing bitter press statements," asserting that Akinlade's exit represents "a massive gain to any political platform that values structure, intelligence and strategic vision."
