Ahead of next year’s governorship election in Ogun State, former governor Ibikunle Amosun has unleashed another political son, Biyi Otegbeye, against Governor Dapo Abiodun who is seeking re-election, Daily Trust reports.
Already, Otegbeye, a Yewa-born lawyer had picked the ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as his name made the final list of candidates released on Tuesday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Credible sources told our correspondent that Amosun zeroed in on Otegbeye after he fell out with Adekunle Akinlade who contested against Abiodun, in 2019, on the platform of Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
Amosun, now a senator representing Ogun Central, had backed Akinlade against Abiodun who ran under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In the polls’ result, Abiodun polled 241,670 votes to defeat Akinlade, who had 222,153 votes.
In the build-up to the 2023 polls, both Otegbeye and Akinlade contested in the APC governorship primary, but lost to Abiodun.
Findings by our correspondent revealed that Akinlade fell out with Amosun when he dumped the ruling party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he was offered a deputy governorship slot.
In August, loyalists of the former governor unveiled Otegbeye as their governorship candidate on the platform of ADC.
The group also introduced Olatunde Awonuga from Ogun Waterside Local Government as Otegbeye’s running mate.
Otegbeye and his running mate were unveiled at a meeting held at the Ibara residence of the former governor on Monday.
Amosun himself was present at the unveiling, alongside other factional members of the APC.
Amosun had also vowed that Abiodun “must be removed from office” in 2023 because he was “rigged” into the office ab initio.
Abiodun, however, denied the allegations, saying he would not be distracted by any person who has a problem with self-delusion, as “Ogun State is not anybody’s father’s inheritance”.
