Ogun 2023: Amosun declares support for ADC governorship candidate

Ogun State former governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, says he’s supporting the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate, Biyi Otegbeye, in the 2023 governorship election. 

But Amosun said he’ll strongly work for the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to emerge as the next president of Nigeria.

Amosun, now Senator representing Ogun Central, had in 2019 backed Abiodun Akinlade on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement against Prince Dapo Abiodun, who ran under the All Progressives Congress.

In the election, Abiodun polled 241,670 votes to defeat Akinlade who had 222,153 votes.

And in the build-up to the 2023 polls, both Otegbeye and Akinlade contested in the APC governorship primary, but lost to Abiodun.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that Akinlade fell out with Amosun when he dumped the ruling party for the Peoples Democratic Party, where he was offered deputy governorship slot.

It was learn that Amosun gave Otegbeye a nod to run on the platform of APM, but Akinlade allegedly blocked the move, leaving the former governor’s men to bargain for the ADC’s governorship ticket.

However, Amosun openly confirmed that he is backing Otegbeye in the next election against Abiodun, who is the candidate of APC, the party they both belong to.

Amosun spoke during an exclusive interview with BBC Yoruba, monitored in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He said, “For the presidential poll, I can assure you, both right, left and centre, we are supporting one person (Tinubu). I believe we are supporting one person. On the governorship poll, that’s a different ball game. I don’t belong there.

“I don’t hide behind one finger to fight. That’s why people say to me ‘don’t say that.’ On governorship, my supporters and I, we don’t belong to that side.”

Asked who he’s supporting, Amosun said, “Biyi Otegbeye is the person I am supporting and ADC is the party.”