Ogun 2023: Inside Gist As Amosun Dumps Akinlade For Adegbite

Charles Oyelesi

Emerging details have it that a realignment of forces have taken place in the political family of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun ahead of the 2023 gubernatorial fight in Ogun State.

Amosun, now a Senator of the Federal Republic Nigeria representing Ogun Central is keenly looking at installing his choice as the next governor of Ogun state after narrowly missing out – in the last general election – to the coalition of political forces led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that helped incumbent governor Dapo Abiodun to power.

Amosun tried to ride on the age-long agitation – and sentiment – of giving minority area Yewa a chance to become the governor of Ogun state by backing indigene of the area Adekunle Akinlade to succeed him – but the move did not sail.

Insiders disclosed Amosun who was out-maneuver in the bid to get the gubernatorial ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress party (APC) in Ogun State for Akinlade and beaten at the polls when he ferociously backed Akinlade who moved rival party All People’s Movement(APM) against the candidate of his own (Amosun’s) political party (APC) in the election has now reshuffled his cards ahead of the 2023 gubernatorial fight ( Akinlade and his co-travelers returned to the APC after the election).

Societynow.ng gathered that rather than retain Akinlade as the “candidate” of his political family in the renewed fight to install the next governor of Ogun State, Amosun has come up with an option that he believes eradicates the weaknesses that gave the other side an edge in the last general election.

“Lekan Adegbite is the new man” a source stated simply and explained, “politics is a game of number as we all know and Adegbite is an Egba (Abeokuta) and based on the numbers of registered voters in Ogun State as confirmed when Baba ( Elder) Olusegun Obasanjo was president, Egba accounts for virtually half the votes in Ogun State, so picking a candidate from such a high votes area eradicates a major weakness exploited against Akinlade who is from the low vote minority area of Yewa in the last election by the incumbent Dapo Abiodun and his backers”.

Insiders claim the same ratio of registered voters prevails in the numbers of members of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Ogun State. A development that is expected to play hugely in the favor of the Amosun political family should the party adopt direct primary to determine its gubernatorial flag bearer in 2023.

Societynow.ng learned Amosun is also banking on the fierce togetherness usually exhibited by the people of Egbaland whenever one of their sons is contesting against the candidate(s) from other regions for such a plum position as that of the Governor.

” There is also the major advantage that Amosun is an Egba man and his influence might have slightly waned, he remains a major force that should be underestimated only at one’s peril. He remains in a very strong position to galvanize support for the Adegbite agenda in and out of his zone” societynow.ng learned.

Societynow.ng further learned that a quiet move to sell Adegbite to major stakeholders in the Amosun political family as the “perfect choice” to fly its banner as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress and win an election whatever the odds – even if a reenactment of last election’s scenario occurs – is on.

Erroneously referred to as the son of late Islamic leader Lateef Adegbite in some quarters, Lekan Adegbite served as a commissioner in Ogun State when Amosun was Governor and is a serving Minister thanks to the influence of the former Governor.

“And naturally, Adegbite is considered as extremely loyal to Amosun” societynow.ng gathered.