Following the failure of loyalists of the former governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to secure the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, as a vehicle for their 2023 ambitions, they have finally settled for the African Democratic Congress, ADC, HorizonTimes gathered.

A source within the camp of the former Governor who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the candidate of the APM and the Party Chairman in the State, were kept incommunicado from being negotiated with.

The Source further revealed that the decision to adopt ADC over APM was also hinged on the legal tussle bothering on the legitimacy of the national leadership of the APM.

According to the source, a suit challenging the legality of the national leadership of the Party was before the Court of Appeal, adding that the decision of the court is likely to disqualify all candidates of the Party.

HorizonTimes gathered that Barrister Biyi Otegbeye has also been retained as the governorship candidate of the ADC in the State.

It was also gathered that all documentations involving the governorship candidate and all the 26 House of Assembly candidates have been perfected.

Efforts were said to be on the pipeline to replace the place holders for the Senatorial and House of Representatives positions.

“The choice of ADC is considered perfect because it is also an old and established party in Nigeria and particularly in Ogun State.

“To this end our Governorship candidate Barr. Biyi Otegbeye and all the 26 House of Assembly candidates will now fly tickets on the platform of ADC,” the source said.

HorizonTimes reports that the loyalists of the former Governor had decided to refloat the APM following irreconcilable differences with Governor Dapo Abiodun.

The decision to however join the APM fell flat following the refusal of the candidate of the Party, Olutosin Emmanuel Jololuwa, to withdraw his candidacy.

In a letter dated 11th August, 2022, a copy of which has gone viral on social media and addressed to the National Chairman of APM, Jolaoluwa categorically stated that he remained the candidate of the party for the 2023 general elections.

According to the letter which was also copied to the National Chairman if INEC, the candidate also disclaimed the notification of a scheduled gubernatorial primary of the party slated for the same day.

"I write to draw your attention to a purported APM gubernatorial primary scheduled to hold in Abeokuta tomorrow Thursday 11st of August, 2022.

"Sequel to the above, I hereby State categorically that I, Olutosin Emmanuel Jolaoluwa of #19, Alhaji Adeosun Street, Abiola Way, Abeokuta, am the bonafide Ogun State gubernatorial candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for the March, 2023 general elections, as published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“I have not withdrawn my candidature for anyone and do not plan to do so, thus, I remain the Ogun State APM candidate for the 2023 gubernatorial elections."

A three-time governorship candidate in the State, Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka was the candidate of the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-backed ADC in 2019 in Ogun State, he came distance third behind Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the first runner up, Adekunle Akinlade of APM.

While Akinlade has moved to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP where he has secured a deputy governorship slot, Isiaka has also moved to the APC where he is contesting for House of Representatives, after losing the senatorial ticket of the Party to a Lagos Senator, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola.