Daud Olatunji
Former Ogun State Governor and Senator, Ibikunle Amosun, on Sunday, stunned political observers and loyalists of Governor Dapo Abiodun as he firmly ruled out any defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reaffirmed his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and publicly endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Amosun’s declaration came amid weeks of speculation that he was set to dump the ruling party and contest the Ogun Central senatorial seat on the platform of the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections, a move believed to have rattled the Abiodun camp and deepened existing fault lines within the APC in Ogun State.
But speaking at a political rally and birthday celebration marking his 68th birthday at the Ake Pavilion, Abeokuta, Amosun threw his weight behind Tinubu, citing the need to sustain power rotation between the North and the South.
“In the interest of Nigeria, we must respect rotation. The North has had eight years under President Muhammadu Buhari. Now it is the turn of the South, and we have President Tinubu. Anybody who truly loves Nigeria should support this arrangement,” Amosun said.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that hours before the event, loyalists of Governor Abiodun, particularly council leaders across Abeokuta North, allegedly warned party members against attending Amosun’s rally.
A voice note obtained by our correspondent featured a female APC chieftain threatening that any party member seen at the event would face expulsion.
Some Abiodun loyalists, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the warnings were “serious and frightening,” forcing many to stay away from the venue to avoid jeopardising their political appointments and benefits.
“They told us plainly not to go near Ake Pavilion. People were scared because nobody wants to lose their position in government,” one source said.
PLATFORM TIMES further learnt that some party leaders loyal to the governor were dispatched to the venue to monitor turnout and identify perceived dissidents within the party.
APC Split Into Rival Blocs
The rivalry, which dates back to the 2019 elections and subsequent leadership battles within the party, has continued to shape Ogun’s political landscape, with both camps struggling for dominance ahead of the 2027 elections.
Despite the tension, Amosun insisted he remained a foundation member of the APC in Ogun State and had no intention of destroying the party he helped build.
“We are proud of our heritage, and we won’t let anyone destroy our progress,” he said.
“So I want to inform all of you that I have read a lot of things, but I want everybody to know that if we say A is our A, then A remains A. We are who we are. In Ogun State, how can anyone talk about APC without talking about Amosun?
“With all due respect to our leaders and elders, when we were forming the APC in Ogun State, the person in the forefront was Chief Olusegun Osoba. After Osoba, who comes next? It is me.
That is why you do not destroy what you build.”
Reiterating his support for Tinubu, Amosun said the president’s leadership was not only in the interest of the South-West but of the entire country.
“He is representing all of us in the South and indeed Nigeria. That is why I am supporting him , not because of personal interest, but because
it is in the interest of Nigeria,” he added.
He urged party members across Ogun to remain loyal to the APC structure and expressed optimism about Tinubu’s economic reforms and policy direction, describing them as painful but necessary steps towards national recovery.
Highlights of the former governor’s 68th birthday included special prayer sessions at his residence in Ibara GRA, Abeokuta, and visits to correctional facilities in Abeokuta, Sagamu, Ilaro and Oba, where he distributed food items and relief materials to inmates.
Addressing supporters at the event, Amosun appealed for unity within the APC and urged his followers not to be distracted by political intimidation.
“I have read many things, but I want everyone to know that if we say A is our A, then A remains A. We are who we are,” he declared.
Political watchers say Amosun’s open endorsement of Tinubu and decision to remain in the APC have effectively disrupted expectations within the Abiodun camp and reshaped calculations ahead of the 2027 elections in Ogun State.
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