The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 election in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, has told the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to desist from intimidating the opposition party, saying “we are all President Bola Tinubu’s men.”
Adebutu is challenging the declaration of Governor Dapo Abiodun of the APC as the winner of the election in the state.
In September, his petition was dismissed by Justice Hamidu Kunaza-led tribunal for lacking in merit.
At the Court of Appeal, Adebutu also lost in a two to one split judgement.
Adebutu while speaking during the end of the year party organised by the PDP, held at the state party secretariat in Abeokuta, said he is hopeful of victory at the Supreme Court.
He said his ambition is beyond one political party, saying “we preach unity and oneness of Nigeria.”
The PDP candidate said the ruling party in the state should desist from intimidating opponents with the President’s name, saying we are all Tinubu’s men.
Adebutu said, “This is not about one party, we have seen the governorship candidate of the LP here, Mr Shogunle, even some members of the APC joined forces with us during the last election, and that is why we have told them to stop intimidating us, we are all Tinubu’s men.
“Our own party here is a party that preaches one Nigeria and one Ogun State. We are not campaigning here today but we must still speak the truth and speak it loudly.
“Meanwhile, we shall talk when the time is right because it is my money that I am giving to people but for that man, he is spending government money, he will explain in due time.”
The Secretary of the party, Sunday Solarin, corroborated Adebutu, saying the PDP is too big a party to be intimidated by the APC.
The party scribe noted that the ruling party had been hostile toward the PDP because of the party’s matter before the Supreme Court.
Solarin was, however, optimistic of victory noting that,”The party actually won the election and that is why we are still in court and we believe quite well that the Supreme Court will set the records straight because it is a court of policy and there are a lot of policy errors we think should have given us favourable judgement at the lower courts, but we know that we are going to get the victory at the Supreme Court.”
