Politics
Why Popular Politician Sikirulai Ogundele Is Playing Frontline Role For APC In Remo By-Election
Named to both the APC Campaign Council and its Strategic Committee
Former Ogun PDP Chairman, Sikirulai Ogundele, is emerging as a key player for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming Remo House of Representatives by-election slated for Saturday, August 16, 2027.
Named to both the APC Campaign Council and its Strategic Committee, Ogundele is offering insider-level intelligence for a contest covering Ikenne, Sagamu, and Remo North in Ogun East.
With his political base in Ifo, Ogun Central, the veteran politician brings an uncommon understanding of the PDP’s inner workings — especially the likely game plan of the party’s main financier, Ladi Adebutu.
“It’s that rare insight he has brought to the table to help APC secure victory in Saturday’s high-stakes poll,” insiders revealed.
Until his defection, Ogundele was not only the PDP’s state chairman but also one of Adebutu’s most trusted strategists.
He sat in the core think-tank that shaped the party’s recent electoral battles, including the razor-close 2023 gubernatorial race that almost delivered Adebutu the governorship.
Adebutu lost that contest by a slim margin, handing Governor Dapo Abiodun a second term on the APC ticket.
Now, the rivalry between the two Iperu-born politicians has intensified — a political feud laced with deep personal animosity.
While Adebutu enjoys a formidable grassroots following and a strong grasp of local politics, he has yet to defeat Abiodun in any direct or proxy election since 2019. Determined to break that streak, he sees Saturday’s off-cycle poll as a proving ground for his political clout.
Naturally, Abiodun and the APC are equally determined to keep their winning run intact — especially as the seat was last held by Adewunmi Onanuga, a staunch Abiodun ally.
Onanuga, popularly known as “Adewunmi Ijaya,” was a two-term Federal House of Representatives member and Deputy Chief Whip until her sudden death in January 2025. She is credited with attracting unprecedented development to the Remo Federal Constituency.
For Abiodun and Adebutu, Saturday’s contest is more than a by-election. It’s a familiar showdown — a political and personal rematch where victory means bragging rights, and defeat comes with lasting political scars.
