By Jimoh Babatunde

ABEOKUTA — Thousands of supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Wednesday, converged on the Ake Palace Pavilion, Abeokuta, as the party officially commenced its campaign for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election.
The supporters, many dressed in PDP colours and carrying party flags and banners, defied a heavy downpour to participate in the campaign procession and rally.
The campaign train moved from the PDP secretariat in Abeokuta to the venue of the rally, attracting residents, grassroots supporters and party loyalists along the route. The large crowd caused traffic congestion as supporters danced and sang solidarity songs in support of the party’s governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, and his running mate, ‘Yemi Showunmi-Kolapo.
At the rally, Adebutu, in a speech titled “A Call to Liberation,” urged Ogun residents to vote out the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 election, promising to provide what he described as quality governance if elected.
He said the state needed to end what he described as “non-performance, corruption and misgovernance,” urging voters to come out on February 6, 2027, vote for the PDP and defend their votes.
Adebutu outlined seven priority areas of his proposed administration, including security, local government autonomy, regional development, transportation and physical planning, rural and urban development, agriculture and economic development, youth and women empowerment, sports, education, healthcare and social services.
He also promised to pay workers and pensioners their entitlements and address what he described as double taxation affecting market women and other traders.
According to him, his administration would also ensure that residents were not discriminated against because of their political affiliations.
Speaking at the rally, Showunmi-Kolapo assured the people of the state that the PDP would provide quality leadership and tackle poverty and maladministration.
She said: “In Ogun State, there is freedom, relief is here. It is Adebutu’s turn.”
The PDP state chairman, Abayomi Tella, called on voters to support Adebutu, promising that the party would provide basic social amenities and good governance if elected.
Tella also urged party supporters to emulate what he described as the “Osun model” by standing by their votes during the election.
The rally, which attracted party leaders and supporters from across the state, ended with renewed calls for mobilisation ahead of the 2027 election.
Many of the supporters described the rainfall during the event as a “rain of blessings” and pledged to vote for the PDP.