Gbenga Daniel, former director-general of the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign organisation, has endorsed Dapo Abiodun, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun state, for Saturday’s election.
In a statement on Thursday, Daniel directed his supporters to vote for Abiodun.
He gave the directive shortly after Atiku appealed to Nigerians to vote en masse for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the governorship and national assembly elections.
Atiku made the appeal in a video widely circulated on social media.
Atiku Abubakar
@atiku
I express my profound gratitude for the massive votes you gave my party – the PDP, during the Presidential and National elections. As we move to the governorship & state elections on March 9, I urge you to come out in larger numbers to peacefully vote for PDP, from top to bottom.
But Daniel who is not on the same page with Buruji Kashamu, governorship candidate of the PDP, has pitched his tent with Abiodun.
Daniel had backed Ladi Adebutu who lost the PDP gubernatorial ticket to Kashamu.
“My Dear compatriots, and members of Remo Resource & R Centre: you would have noticed my studied silence in our local politics in recent times, he said in a statement.
“I have busied myself with national politics having served the state for 8 years. I have also been very busy supporting the ambition of the son of our great philantropist in Remoland to become the next governor of our dear state.
“You however would have become aware of the court decision yesterday which did not favour him. Going forward, I have directed all our structures statewide to cast all their votes on Saturday for Prince Dapo Abiodun, another bona fide Remo son despite current party differences.
“I therefore enjoin all to please go and cast your vote on Saturday for Dapo Abiodun in the overall interest of our people. With best regards.”
The Ogun election will end as one of the most interesting, given the fact that the two major parties are fraught with internal crisis.
Adekunle Akinlade, preferred candidate of Ibikunle Amosun, the incumbent governor, had defected to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) after losing the APC ticket.
Amosun, who won the Ogun central senatorial election under APC, has mobilised his structure for Akinlade.
