Politics is constructed on constructions, integrity, and shared imaginative and prescient — three issues the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has woefully didn’t uphold.
The latest assertion issued by the Publicity Secretary of the Ogun State PDP, Otunba Arc. Kayode Adebayo, in response to the resignation of Hon. Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade from the celebration, is a regrettable testomony to the tradition of blame-shifting, scapegoating, and inner implosion that has plagued the celebration for years.
To explain a person of confirmed loyalty to democratic beliefs, an astute political chief, and a grassroots mobilizer as a “Judas” displays extra concerning the character of the accuser than the accused. It’s disappointing — although not stunning — {that a} celebration that after begged for Akinlade’s inclusion now seeks to denigrate him just because he selected to depart a sinking ship riddled with inner betrayal, absence of management construction, and power disregard for its personal structure.
A Party at Conflict With Itself
Hon. Akinlade’s resignation will not be an act of sabotage; it’s the pure final result of a poisonous and dysfunctional celebration surroundings. For over a yr, the Ogun PDP has been in a state of relentless inner battle, with parallel congresses, a number of factions, and blatant disregard for constitutionally prescribed processes.
The identical Nationwide Working Committee (NWC) that offered registration supplies to Akinlade’s group, acknowledged their ward congresses, and obtained registers with over 49,000 members, abruptly selected to acknowledge one other faction in a brazen and unconstitutional twist — triggering authorized battles that stay unresolved to this point. Who, then, really sabotaged the celebration?
False Claims, Hole Arguments
To allege that Akinlade covertly labored for the APC throughout the 2023 election is laughable and cowardly. The information are on file. Akinlade introduced immense power and strategic depth to the PDP ticket alongside Hon. Ladi Adebutu. His fame and grassroots base in Ogun State helped increase the PDP’s attain inside his area. That the celebration underperformed in sure areas shouldn’t be weaponized in opposition to one particular person — particularly when inner sabotage from inside PDP ranks did far better harm to its electoral possibilities than something exterior forces might obtain.
This is similar celebration that failed woefully to retrieve its personal 2022 Congress checklist from INEC — an inner lapse so damaging that the Federal Excessive Court docket in Abeokuta was compelled to direct INEC to delist all PDP candidates from collaborating within the 2023 basic elections. Sarcastically, it was Hon. Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade and his workforce who intervened decisively to salvage the state of affairs and restore the celebration’s electoral viability in Ogun State.
If the PDP needs to speak betrayal, it should start by interrogating the egocentric political warlords inside its ranks whose solely loyalty is to their private ambition — not the celebration, not the folks.
The Reality About Akinlade
Hon. Akinlade will not be determined for relevance. He stays one among Ogun State’s most revered and adopted political figures, admired for his mind, humility, and deep connection to the folks. As a former member of the Home of Representatives (2015–2019), 2019 Governorship candidate, and 2023 Deputy Governorship candidate, his political capital is plain. His exit will not be a loss to the PDP — it’s a huge achieve to any political platform that values construction, intelligence, and strategic imaginative and prescient.
Transferring Ahead
The PDP could select to dismiss Akinlade’s departure as “nothing misplaced,” however the actuality within the 236 wards of Ogun State tells a distinct story. The celebration is bleeding members, struggling to carry itself collectively, and is quick shedding credibility among the many voters — not due to Akinlade, however due to the vanity and inner sabotage of those that now try to rewrite historical past.
Relatively than issuing bitter press statements, the PDP would do higher by conducting trustworthy self-reflection and rebuilding from its ruins. The renaissance it speaks of can’t be constructed on falsehood, factionalism, and character assassination.
Signed:
Akinleye Olu-Philips
Senior Media Marketing consultant to Hon. Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade
