The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election drew large crowds in Ijebu-Ode and Odogbolu on Wednesday. The party’s candidate, Ladi Adebutu, used the tour to accuse the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of obstructing his campaign and attacking his convoy.
Adebutu arrived with his running mate, Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, and the party’s Ogun East senatorial candidate, Femi Omotayo Omo-Owo. A large crowd of supporters was already waiting at Lagos Garage in Ijebu-Ode, where the procession started.
Traders, okada riders, farmers, youths and other party supporters joined the march through the streets to Kashiru and on to the Stadium, where the candidates addressed residents. Supporters carried party flags, banners and placards bearing photographs of Adebutu and Sowunmi-Kolapo, and urged bystanders to vote PDP in next year’s election. A disc jockey kept the crowd entertained throughout the trek.
At Oke-Aje market, traders left their stalls to receive the candidates. Adebutu and his team came down from the convoy, spoke with traders and bought goods, which they shared among supporters. A sweet potato trader called out to the candidate that residents were tired of hardship. The convoy was also received by residents at Dagbuwere market in Idowa.
The party said its supporters repelled thugs allegedly loyal to the APC at the Idowa–Ososa boundary before the procession continued.
The convoy reached Odogbolu on Wednesday evening to a large turnout. Supporters sang in the Ijebu dialect, “Ladi de! Ladi de!”, meaning “Ladi has arrived.”
Addressing the crowd in English, Yoruba and Ijebu, Adebutu said he had come to make a “covenant” with the people. He claimed there were attempts to stop him from entering Odogbolu. He also alleged that his convoy’s windscreen and tyres were shot at on the way, and that he was denied permission to put up posters and use a campaign venue, including in his late mother’s hometown. He promised to release documents on what he called the fraudulent activities of his opponents.
Adebutu pledged to restore local government autonomy, pay outstanding pensions and clear gratuity arrears if elected. He accused the APC-led government of embezzling public funds and misappropriating cooperative society funds.
He also alleged that APC governorship candidate Solomon Adeola, popularly called Yayi, diverted about N4 trillion in constituency projects meant for other states to Ogun. He said he had evidence and dared Adeola to go to court.
Sowunmi-Kolapo urged voters to back Adebutu and resist intimidation. Femi Awotayo and other party leaders made the same call.
John Babafemi, a former PDP chairman in Odogbolu Local Government Area, recalled PDP’s record in the state and accused the APC of damaging governance. Kehinde Shogunle, Director-General of the Ogun PDP Campaign, urged voters to protect their votes. Folake Marcus-Bello, a former Nigerian ambassador to Zambia, challenged Adeola to prove his ancestry in Ogun State. She said she would expose his alleged past after his recent legal threat over the issue.
PDP State Chairman Abayomi Tella urged residents to turn out en masse and stand by their votes. He said the party’s National Assembly candidates and Adebutu would win.
As the campaign left Odogbolu at sunset, supporters followed it on foot to the town’s boundary, chanting “Ladi ni tiwa” (“Ladi is ours”).
Note: Adebutu’s N4 trillion claim against Adeola and the alleged shooting at his convoy are unverified allegations. I attributed both to him. Add a response from Adeola or the APC before publishing. The source names “Femi Omotayo Omo-Owo” and “Femi Awotayo” separately, so confirm whether they are the same person. I left out the source’s editorial lines (“brought to a standstill,” “homecoming”) since the story only has PDP’s account of the crowds.
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