‘Ogun PDP sure of victory’

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Chief Adebayo Dayo, has said the party will wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s general elections.

Dayo said the PDP had been repositioned and rebranded to attract new members from the APC and other parties.

He said the main opposition is the party to beat in Ogun State.

There are two factions of PDP in the state: the Dayo-led executive loyal to Senator Buruji Kashamu is recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); the National Executive-backed the Sikirulahi Ogundele faction working for Ladi Adebutu.

Dayo, who spoke to our correspondent at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta, the state capital, insisted that despite the split, “we are strong enough to win the elections in February 2019”.

He added: “There is no problem in engaging APC.  It is not a party we are afraid of; it is a party of the past, drawing Nigeria backwards.

“The PDP is in majority in Ogun State. We will not allow them to rig the election. We will make sure our votes count. We have confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and law enforcement agents that they would perform their duties according to the rules.”

The party chairman did not rule out reconciliation with the other group.