Dapo Abiodun supporters to join APM as he battles court cases

Indications have emerged that some supporters of Prince Dapo Abiodun have started retracing their steps back to join the Gov Ibikunle Amosun camp to avoid losing out.

Dapo Abiodun became the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State in a rancourous primary many said never held. 

The situation has since divided the Ogun APC into factions.

The inability of the Adams Oshiomhole led National Working Committee to address the controversies that trailed the primary caused the party's consensus candidate, Adekunle Akinlade to defect to the Allied People's Movement (APM)

But the rancour in the APC in Ogun took a new dimension recently with allegations of perjury as well as evasion of NYSC scheme levied against Dapo Abiodun. 

The inability of the Iperu-born politician to defend himself or react to pressmen seeking clarifications on the allegations has dealt a big blow on his supporters.

It was learnt that the oil magnate is currently battling with not less three different court cases filed against him by aggrieved APC members, in which they ask the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify him. 

As a result of this, many of his supporters have started realigning with the Amosun camp in order not to be caught napping, in case Abiodun loses out in court. 

Checks by our correspondent confirmed that there is panic as well as cold feet among Dapo Abiodun's loyalists as none of them could predict whether or not he would survive the charges against him. 

African Advocate gathered that efforts by leaders of the group, including Chief Segun Osoba to calm down their followers proved abortive as they are not sure of victory at the court, especially with the NYSC issue.

A source, who confided in our correspondent, said:

"Many of us with Dapo Abiodun will have to go back to Amosun and join the APM where we know there are no court cases. Court today, court tomorrow is not what we should be doing two months to election. 

"Before, we have some confidence that we are going to defeat Jimi Lawal in court. But when they came up with perjury, NYSC evasion and so on, we got discouraged .

"Just yesterday, another people filed another charges against us. For how long will that continue? As politicians, we can't be hang our fate under court uncertainties. We need to move on. 

"If we choose to stay, he can win and he can lose, but we know he cannot win all the court cases before him."

Meanwhile, some APC protesters from Ogun State were in Abuja yesterday, praying the INEC and the APC to disqualify Dapo Abiodun and stop him from contesting the Ogun 2019 governorship election.

In a related development, Akinlade's APM launched its campaign in a well-attended event, getting the endorsement of about 60 political parties.