By Oladele Fagbemi

By printing and selling membership cards and nomination forms to two separate groups automatically means that the PDP NWC recognized and approved the fact that there are at least two factions in Ogun State PDP. Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s effort to bring the two factions together is a testament that the party at both the National and Zonal levels acknowledged the existence of two factions.

The faction led by Hon. Ladi Adebutu claims to control the party structure across the state, considering the huge financially resources at his disposal, he does not want to open up the political space and test his popularity with others. Truth be told, Ladi has to his credit, a network of supporters within ogun state and the party NWC, thanks to Mr. Ajisafe, the South West Zonal Chairman of PDP who is a close ally of the Adebutus by virtue of being an ex-official of the Adebutu-owned Premier Lotto.

The second faction is controlled by Otunba Jimi Lawal, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade and Hon. Dr. Sikirulai Ogundele PhD, who believe that they control the soul of PDP in Ogun State. This team is equally formidable as it has in its fold, Otunba Jimi Lawal, a PhD student in Law, with considerable deep pocket and strong northern political network.

You have Hon. Adekunle Akinlade, a very intelligent political strategist and an unapologetic student of power. Then comes, Hon. Dr. Sikirulai Ogundele PhD, a master political analyst and executor. He brings to the team, a very extensive knowledge of PDP intra-party politics.

I do not believe that these men are that naive to think that they can just unseat Ladi Adebutu as the leader of the party in Ogun state and governorship hopeful. I believe that they have a bigger plan for the future. If there is anything I have learnt from their actions so far, it is the fact that they are bent on establishing their influence in Ogun state PDP.

So, those who ask, why the parallel Congress in Ogun State, are most likely missing the import of their participation in the August 31st and September 14, 2024 congresses. One, they have shown Ladi Adebutu and the NWC that they have a very resilient support base across the 236 Wards and 20 LGs of Ogun state. The fact that they can hold their own regardless of Ladi Adebutu’s financial resources, speaks volume.

While the Adebutu-led faction were busy deploying hundreds of millions of naira to incentivize and mobilize their supporters for both congresses, the Jimi Lawal support base exhibited, resilience and genuine commitment across board as they came out in their thousands to participate with little or nothing. Now that is a very scary and formidable force to work against in any political permutation.

The question is, can the PDP NWC, Ladi Adebutu or anyone who truly wants to win elections in Ogun State ignore this formidable force? Time will definitely tell. But, as a keen observer, the November 2024 Ogun State Local Government election will be a pointer to what will happen in the days, weeks and months ahead. But, whichever way you look at it, the trio of Lawal, Akinlade and Ogundele truly control the soul of Ogun PDP. The reason for this assertion is not farfetched: they have genuine and committed members who have laboured through thick and thin to prove their mettle unlike the others who are merely gravitating to the proverbial oily hands

| Dr Fagbemi, JP wrote in from Abeokuta, Ogun state