The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed reports that it has endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate ahead of the August 16 by-election, describing the claim as “a blatant lie.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Publicity Secretary, Kayode Adebayo, the party clarified that its public declaration of support was solely for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid in 2027, and not for any APC candidate in the state.
The clarification followed speculation after the party chairman, Abayomi Tella, and its 2023 governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, pledged their support for President Tinubu during the official campaign flag-off for Bolarinwa Oluwole, the PDP’s candidate for Remo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
“The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ogun State, has been drawn to another concoction of falsehood being circulated on social media, alleging that our party has openly endorsed the APC candidate and conceded defeat ahead of the August 16 by-election. What a blatant lie!” the statement read.
The PDP said its backing of Tinubu was strictly on the principle of power shift to the South, which it noted was the primary reason for his 2023 electoral victory, and does not in any way extend to local or state contests.
Adebayo further accused the APC of twisting the narrative as a face-saving strategy.
“We are not unaware of why the APC is attempting to distort the facts. It is a tactical way of preparing grounds for another round of electoral defeat in the by-election,” he said.
He stressed that the by-election had no connection with President Tinubu’s re-election bid, warning that the ruling APC faced steep opposition in Ogun State due to what he described as “abysmally poor management of the state.”
The party reaffirmed its commitment to credible polls and expressed confidence in its chances in the forthcoming by-election.
