The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has thrown its hat into the ring for the 2027 governorship race, launching its campaign with a grand, carnival-like event in Abeokuta. The party's candidate, Ladi Adebutu, flanked by his running mate Yemi Sowunmi, presented a bold vision to a massive crowd of supporters drawn from across the state's 20 local government areas.
At the Ake Palace Pavilion, Adebutu laid out his administration's Seven-Point Agenda, a blueprint aimed at tackling key issues facing the state. Prominent on this list is the restoration of local government autonomy, a point he stressed by recalling what he termed the "golden epoch" of PDP governance between 2003 and 2011. During this period, he claimed, local governments were vibrant and functional, driving wealth creation and ensuring that citizens were promptly paid their pensions and gratuities. He promised this would be a central theme of his campaign, aiming to bring back that era of grassroots prosperity.
Adebutu didn't shy away from critiquing the current administration, which he stated has been in power for 15 years since 2011. He described the period as one of "suffocating hardship, unparalleled neglect, and economic strangulation," attributing these woes to alleged "maladministration and obvious corruption." He assured the crowd that his party offers a starkly different path, one defined by good governance and accountability. His campaign's slogan, "ITURA DE," which he revealed signifies comfort and relief, will be the banner under which they march towards the 2027 elections.
Beyond local government autonomy, Adebutu’s agenda also zeroes in on critical areas like education, health, agriculture, security, and the empowerment of youth and women. Workers' welfare and the prompt payment of retirement benefits are also highlighted, promising a secure future and "life abundance" for the people of Ogun State. He presented his plan as a comprehensive strategy for "total socio-economic liberation," underpinned by five cardinal programmes: building strategic state infrastructure, fostering entrepreneurial development, steering a strong economy, stimulating livable communities, and ensuring a corruption-free work environment through transparency and accountability.
The PDP's campaign launch signals a direct challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State. Adebutu positioned himself and the PDP as having the necessary "character and heritage" to lead the state to greater heights, contrasting their approach with what he perceives as the failures of the past decade and a half. The party aims to tap into a perceived nostalgia for the PDP's previous tenures, vowing to reignite the state's economic engine and ensure tangible dividends of democracy for its citizens.