Strong indications have emerged that the immediate past governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun may be probed over comments he made regarding the conduct of the election in the state in 2019.
Eighteen-Eleven Media recalls that the former governor, penultimate Friday alleged that Governor Dapo Abiodun was rigged into office.
Amosun had backed Adekunle Akinlade who contested on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) against Abiodun who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In the end, Abiodun defeated Amosun’s anointed candidate with a margin of 19,517 votes.
Abiodun polled 241,670 votes to defeat Akinlade who had 222,153 votes.
However, more than three years after the election, Amosun who represents Ogun Central in the Senate on the platform of APC, declared that his friend turned foe, Abiodun did not win that election.
Speaking in Abeokuta after receiving an award from the Abeokuta Club to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the association, the former governor said: “During the last election, thank God, Chief Osoba is here, I have said it, we won convincingly. They rigged, rigged, and ended up with 19,000.
“Some of them came to apologise to me. I can be mentioning names. We won that election. But I have moved on. We did our work, we will continue to do what we have to do. God will be with all of us,” the former governor said.
Speaking later in an interview with newsmen, Amosun declared that he was not in support of Abiodun’s administration, saying he must be removed.
He also assured his supporters that the next line of action would soon be made public.
“Well, I am happy. When you are in a place and they are telling you that you have done the work of four or five governors altogether. I feel elated. I am happy that they appreciated our little efforts.
“Just wait, very soon, you will hear where we are going next. Clearly, you know my stand, and my stand is my stand. I am not supporting this administration that is there now. He must be removed,” he said.
Meanwhile, APC leaders appear uncomfortable with the outburst of the former governor. The Ogun State APC Chairman, Yemi Sanusi, who berated the ex-governor over his statement on the 2019 election, noted that such an outburst was not only “unsenatorial” but also unbecoming of a supposed statesman.
Following a closed-door meeting with the leaders of the ruling party in the 20 local government areas of the state on Friday, Eighteen-Eleven Media gathered that the party leaders called for disciplinary measures against the former governor.
In 2019, Senator Amosun was suspended from the party for backing candidates of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) against the APC.
Sanusi said that he was the acting chairman of the party in 2019, declaring that the election which produced the incumbent governor was the most credible in the history of elections in the state.
According to him, the electorate overwhelmingly voted for Governor Abiodun and stood against any move to upturn their will.
He added that all subterranean schemes evolved by the then governor to ensure that his candidate won were thwarted by the vigilant and irrepressible people of the state.
Sanusi assured Governor Abiodun that the State Working Committee of the party had commenced mobilisation of party members across the 20 local governments of the state.
He further hinted the party in the state might probe the rigging allegation raised by the former governor, noting that it was high time the anti-party activities of the senator were investigated.
The party chairman, therefore, called on the leaders and members to reciprocate the kind gesture of Governor Abiodun by working hard to ensure that the governor is re-elected in next year’s election.
Governor Abiodun has in the meantime donated a bus to the state executive council. This, he said, was to enhance the council’s operations ahead of the 2023 general election.
He added that the donation was in appreciation of the immense contribution of the party towards the growth of democracy in the state.
Describing the party’s state executive as a partner in progress, Abiodun noted that the party had continued to remain an entity in the state without crisis due to the sterling leadership demonstrated by the people running the affairs of the party.
He noted that the state government would continue to support the party to sustain its membership drive, adding that all hands must be on deck as the party prepares for the coming election.