How Wike, Atiku Feud Is Troubling Adebutu’s Guber Ambition In Ogun

The battle for the soul of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which has pitched Presidential candidate Atiku Abubarkar and Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike on opposing sides is troubling the gubernatorial ambition of Ladi Adebutu in Ogun State.

Adebutu, the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP recognized by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) is aligned with Atiku.

But he now faces strong opposition from Jimi Lawal, the gubernatorial aspirant backed by Governor Wike and his staunch ally Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State.

Emerging details have it that Lawal with the backings of the two influential southern governors is working behind the scene to “legally” take away the mandate of Adebutu as the candidate of PDP for the 2023 governorship election in Ogun State.

Lawal’s supporters believe that he is inching nearer the objective by the day with intentional underground work.

SocietyNow.Ng gathered that very telling is the development that Lawal a former Bank Managing Director of defunct Alpha Merchant Bank has the backing of the group that gave Adebutu the same treatment in the 2019 election – the Kashamu Group.

“Members of the Kashamu group who are still in the PDP (after the death of patron Kashamu Buruji in August 2020) are fiercely backing Lawal against Adebutu” SocietyNow.Ng gathered.

Though members of the same party, Kashamu and Adebutu were bitter political enemies locked in an unrelenting fight for the control of PDP in Ogun state till the former passed away.

Kashamu got the better of Adebutu in the 2019 election when he was validated by the court as the candidate of the PDP in Ogun state at the 11th hour.

Lawal is working underground with the backing of Wike, Makinde, and hardcore loyalists of Kashamu – still nursing the old feud – to take over the PDP gubernatorial ticket for the 2023 election from Adebutu SocietyNow.Ng gathered.

Insiders insist that this conflict of interests is troubling Adebutu’s gubernatorial ambition within the party as stakeholders take sides, fracturing the party.

“It will take a truce between Wike and his team and Atiku and his camp to takeaway this trouble for Adebutu from the look of things” SocietyNow.Ng gathered.

Wike is insistent that the National Chairman of the Party Iyiorcha Ayu resigns since the presidential candidate has emerged from his zone while Atiku opposes the move.

Wike was a presidential aspirant in the primary election that produced Atiku as the candidate and claims his demand for the resignation of the national chairman a part of agreements made before the election.