Daud Olatunji
The Labour Party South-West Zonal Vice Chairman, Abayomi Arabambi, has urged the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, to withdraw from the 2027 governorship race and support fellow Egba politician, Segun Sowunmi.
Arabambi said the move would preserve the political interests of the Egba people and strengthen their bargaining position ahead of the 2027 election.
He made the call on Monday during a radio programme in Abeokuta while speaking on the emerging political alignments ahead of the governorship election.
According to him, if the Egba Agenda fails to produce the next governor, the Egba political bloc should support the Yewa Agenda, provided an Egba candidate is guaranteed the position of Secretary to the State Government.
“If the Egba Agenda is not realisable, we are of the opinion that the Egba Agenda must support the Yewa Agenda with a caveat that Egba must produce the SSG,” Arabambi said.
He argued that no senatorial district should expect to monopolise the governorship, stressing that political accommodation among the three major blocs — Egba, Yewa and Remo — would be crucial to the 2027 contest.
Arabambi said the Egbas constituted a significant voting bloc and should therefore remain part of the political power structure regardless of which zone eventually produces the governor.
“If Adebutu refuses to relax for Segun Sowunmi, is it going to be a win for Yayi? Egba cannot be outside of the power circle,” he said.
The LP chieftain also questioned Adebutu’s claim to an exclusive political inheritance in Odeda, saying the political history of the area did not confer automatic ownership on any individual or family.
He disclosed that the Egba bloc had already aligned with the ambition of Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as part of the emerging political calculations around the 2027 election.
However, Arabambi said the Remo people would also have their turn in the political equation, insisting that the governorship should not become the permanent preserve of any one group.
Arabambi also attributed part of the current political realignment in Ogun to Governor Dapo Abiodun’s ability to accommodate opposing political interests.
He described Abiodun as humble and accommodating, saying the governor’s conduct during a previous legal dispute changed his perception of him.
The LP chieftain recalled that he had taken Abiodun and the Commissioner for Housing to court during the governor’s first term but alleged that the governor did not retaliate through intimidation or political thuggery.
He said Abiodun’s response to the dispute eventually led to a change in his perception and the development of a cordial relationship between them.
Arabambi described the governor’s disposition as “pastoral”, saying his willingness to engage critics and explain his position contributed to his eventual appreciation of the administration.
On the presidential election, Arabambi declared support for President Bola Tinubu, arguing that continuity was necessary for the country.
He commended the administration over the Benin-Ogun Expressway project and said Tinubu should be allowed to complete two terms in office.
Arabambi also suggested that the Labour Party could support Tinubu in 2027, claiming that the party had adopted a position favourable to the President.
He made critical remarks about the political prospects of the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, while urging Nigerians to assess the performance of political leaders before voting in 2027.
The LP chieftain also praised the Tinubu administration over improved fuel availability.
He urged Nigerians to place national interest above partisan loyalty when deciding who to support in the next general election.
On the Ogun governorship race, Arabambi said aspirants must possess sufficient financial capacity and political structures to prosecute a competitive election.
He consequently renewed his call for Adebutu to step aside for Sowunmi, arguing that such an arrangement would strengthen the Egba bloc’s negotiating position.
He said if the Egba Agenda could not produce the governor, the group should negotiate with the Yewa bloc for an Egba SSG, insisting that the ultimate objective should be to ensure that the Egba people remain relevant in the political power structure of Ogun State.
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