The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has refuted claims that it endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the upcoming August 16 by-election, describing such allegations as "a blatant lie."
In a statement released on Tuesday, the party clarified that while they have declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027, this endorsement does not extend to the APC candidate in the Remo Federal Constituency by-election.
The controversy emerged after the party chairman, Abayomi Tella, and its 2023 gubernatorial candidate, Ladi Adebutu, publicly expressed support for President Tinubu's second-term ambition during the official campaign flag-off of Bolarinwa Oluwole, the PDP candidate for the Remo Federal Constituency.
Kayode Adebayo, the PDP publicity secretary, issued a statement addressing what he termed "another concoction of falsehood" circulating on social media platforms. "The unfounded story has it that the Ogun PDP has openly endorsed the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and effectively conceded defeat ahead of the August 16 bye-election. What a blatant lie!" the statement read.
Adebayo explained that the party's support for President Tinubu stemmed from "the imperative of power shift to the South" in the 2023 elections. He emphasized that this endorsement "would not affect our party's candidates for the 2027 National Assembly elections and other state elections."
"The coming by-election is not in any way connected to the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu," the statement continued, suggesting that the APC's misrepresentation was "a tactical way of accepting the reality of another round of electoral defeat in the by-election."
The PDP expressed confidence in their prospects for the upcoming by-election, stating: "There is no way the APC can stand a chance of winning any electoral contest in Ogun State again, especially following the abysmally poor management of the state."
The clarification highlights the complex political dynamics in Ogun State, where party allegiances at the national level may differ from local electoral strategies. It also underscores the heightened tensions ahead of the August 16 by-election in the Remo Federal Constituency.
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