An alleged move by top traditional leaders in Ogun State to prevail on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, to withdraw the petition against Governor Dapo Abiodun has been generating ripples in the state.
Adebutu had filed a petition before the election petition tribunal against the victory of Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Saturday, March 18, governorship election in the state.
Abiodun, who polled 276,298 votes against Adebutu’s 262,383, was declared winner of the election.
In his prayer before the tribunal, Adebutu sought an order declaring him as the winner of the election.
However, there were indications that top monarchs from the state had visited Sir Kensington Adebukunola Adebutu, the father of the governorship candidate of PDP, in London, and asked him to prevail on his son to back out of the legal battle.
Both Adebutu and Abiodun hail from Iperu-Remo in Ikenne LGA.
Apart from monarchs from other regions, the Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remo land, Babatunde Ajayi, alongside some other monarchs and chiefs, recently visited the senior Adebutu in London.
The Akarigbo was joined on the trip by the Chairman of Coleman Cable, Solomon Onafowokan; Chairman of Remo Growth and Development Foundation, Tunji Lawal-Solarin; Elepe of Epe, Adewale Osiberu; and Ewusi of Makun, Timothy Adesanya.
The emissaries went to London at the instance of the governor, it was gathered.
The move, however, has continued to generate controversy in the state, especially in the political circle.
A source in the Adebutu camp confirmed that the PDP candidate was under pressure to withdraw the petition.
Asked if Adebutu would yield to the pressure, the source said, “He appealed to the traditional rulers to let justice prevail, telling them that the mandate was not his mandate, but that of the people of Ogun State.”
A few weeks after the trip, the palace of the Akarigbo in a statement signed by the Bamofin of Remo-land, Adebayo Onafuwa, confirmed the visit but quickly debunked the allegation that it was at the instance of the governor.
Onafuwa said that the visit was to ensure peace after the election which featured two Remo sons.
