The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State on Monday unveiled veteran journalist, Lateefah Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, as its deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

Kolapo, who is also the Iya Suna of Egbaland, is expected to be the running mate to the governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, in the election.

Speaking at the declaration ceremony held at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta, the state chairman of the party, Abayomi Tella, said the PDP was confident of victory in 2027.

Tella noted that the party had selected candidates who are “pure and undiluted indigenes of Ogun State.”

He said, “The efforts of the State Working Committee and the leadership of this party are now yielding significant results.

“All of you, without exception, will agree with me today that the PDP in Ogun State is well-positioned to be a major force in 2027. Let me thank every leader of this party who has not rested on their oars until we got to this level. As we are doing this today, another one will soon come.

“I have told the other party that when they go for minnows and fries, we go for the big fish, and that’s the result we are seeing now, and we are still going to see more.

“The good thing about this combination is that these are pure, undiluted indigenes of Ogun State. When the other party wanted to make another error, they still went to import someone who permanently lives in Lagos, in addition to the original Lagos person they brought to us.

“We have agreed that the theme of this election is going to be Ogun for Ogun. Are we going to allow a total stranger to come and claim our inheritance? Are we ready to fight with our voter cards against him?” he asked.

Also speaking, the party’s governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, said the deputy governorship candidate emerged through the will of the people and for the purpose of serving them.

“today, however, I believe, and we should all sense, that the time is right. We have forty candidates on this stage today, and for the first time, I can confidently say that there is no weak link among us. All forty candidates are steadfast, committed and strong.

“That is a message to those who are watching and studying what we are doing: God’s time is always the best,” Adebutu added.

In her acceptance speech, the deputy governorship candidate, Lateefah Sowunmi-Kolapo, appreciated the party for reposing confidence in her.

Sowunmi-Kolapo urged residents to come out en masse to vote, expressing confidence that the PDP would emerge victorious and take its seat at Oke-Mosan.

Meanwhile, Iyabo Obasanjo urged the electorate to protect their votes and not allow what she described as “vote stealing” in 2019 and 2023 to repeat itself.

She insisted that Adebutu was robbed of his mandate in previous elections and assured supporters that such would not happen in 2027, given her influence within the party.

Former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over reports that the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential ticket may pick its vice-presidential candidate from the South-South region.

In a post on X on Monday, Okonkwo described the reported decision as “unfortunate” and warned that it would amount to the continued marginalisation of the South-East, which he noted has neither produced a president nor vice president since 1999.

He argued that denying the South-East the opportunity to produce either the presidential or vice-presidential candidate of the ADC in the 2027 election would amount to an “unpardonable injustice.”

Okonkwo also referenced the role of former ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, saying the party founder made significant sacrifices by relinquishing control of the party to facilitate the coalition aimed at producing a better Nigeria.

“I heard from social media that the ADC has picked its vice presidential candidate from the South-South. If this is true, it is unfortunate, as this will continue the crude marginalisation of the South-East.

“I did not join the coalition to assist in the further marginalisation of my own people. I am of the opinion that if we made a sacrifice to give up the National Chairman and the President, it would amount to unpardonable injustice to deny us the Vice President in 2027,” Okonkwo wrote.

The actor-turned-politician stated that the only request he made to Atiku, whom he said had previously presented himself as a pathway to a South-East presidency, was to demonstrate that commitment by selecting a running mate from the region.

Okonkwo said that if reports of a South-South vice-presidential nominee are confirmed, he would not be willing to campaign for the presidential ticket in 2027.

He maintained that he entered politics to fight for a Nigeria where no region or group is marginalised and insisted that the South-East deserves representation on the presidential ticket.