The Nation Newspaper

Category: Election

  • Victory is assured, says Adeleke

    After casting his vote, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke, has assured his supporters that, if he is not rigged out by the authorities in charge of the process, he is sure of victory.

    Adeleke who arrived exactly 8am at his polling unit 009, Ward 2, Abogunde/Sagba registration area, Ede North, was the first to vote at the unit.

    The Card Reader Machine had initially difficulties authenticating his fingerprints, but after about five minutes, he succeeded in doing his accreditation.

    The PDP flag bearer who voted at about 8.07am told reporters afterwards that so far everything was proceeding normally and that if it continues that way he is sure of victory.

    He said attempts were made to frustrate his bid, to destabilise him ahead of the election, but everything failed in the end.

    Buoyed by the support he is getting from his constituency in Ede, Senator Adeleke who surprisingly emerged winner of the Osun West senatorial by-election in July 2017 fancies himself as the next governor of Osun State.

    Adeleke became actively involved in partisan politics when he contested and won the by-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  after the death of his elder brother, former Governor Isiaka Adeleke, then a serving senator, in April 2017.

    Read Also: Live Updates: Osun 2018 governorship election

    Ademola Adeleke had defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP, when he suspected that the ruling APC in Osun State would deny him its ticket for the contest.

    He proved book makers wrong when he won the election which was conducted on July 23, 2017. Everyone had expected the APC to win the election.

  • Osun decides: Last minute inducement in Ikire

    Ikire, the sleepy center of activities in Irewole Local Govt area, Osun state, is presently calm and a bit cloudy.

    Nothwithstanding, parties are engaging in last minute cash inducement of voters.

    As early as 5am, designated party agents and unit leaders have started canvassing for votes with money.

    The slogan is “e gba Owo e te si oju”.

    One of the canvassers who tried to induce this reporter around health center area offered N1000 to vote for one of the new parties.

  • Osun decides: Oyetola, Omisore, Adeleke, Adeoti, Akinbade in tough contest

    Four years after outgoing governor, Rauf Aregbesola, won a reelection in tough circumstances, another governorship election holds today to produce his successor. As the electorate cast their votes, BISI OLADELE and ADESOJI ADENIYI analyse the likely voting patterns across the major towns and cities in the State of Virtues.

    FIVE main gorvernorship contenders are set to battle for the votes of 1.24 million voters expected to turn out today to choose who should govern Osun State for the next four years. Although the available votes will be shared between 48 candidates of different parties standing for the election, Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Iyiola Omisore of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Moshood Adeoti of the African Democratic Party (ADP), Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Fatai Akinbade of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are considered as main contenders. The huge number of PVC holders presents both a challenge and opportunity for the candidates one way or the other. For candidates that are really popular in towns and communities with high number of PVC holders, it will be an opportunity to score high and vice versa.

    The towns and cities include Osogbo, Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Iwo, Ede, Ejigbo and Ikirun. Osogbo Osogbo, the Osun State capital, has the highest number of votes, judging by past elections. This is so particularly when joined with votes from Ikirun, a neighbouring town. Voters in Osogbo will more likely decide in favour of APC’s Oyetola because the city has benefitted most from the urban renewal project and education policies of the Aregbesola administration in the last eight years. The transformation of Osogbo has been massive under Aregbesola, and this has greatly enhanced the economic strength of the city. Besides, none of the five major candidates hails from the town. While Oyetola hails from Iragbiji, Omisore from Ile-Ife, Adeleke from Ede and Adeoti from Iwo, ADC’s Akinbade hails from Ogbagbaa, near Iwo. In fact, some opposition politicians have accused the APC of concentrating development on Osogbo alone, given the massive infrastructural renewal and beautification project of the Aregbesola administration. But that does not foreclose the chances of other parties from gaining some percentage of the votes as they all have their supporters spread in the entire state. But APC is tipped to score the majority of votes in Osogbo and its surrounding communities. Ede Adeleke is expected to pull a large number of votes from Ede.

    APC strategists, however, believe that the party will get substantial votes from the town as many of its indigenes are not favourably disposed to Adeleke. The emergence of Adeleke as the PDP flag bearer has sharply divided the PDP faithful. The aggrieved among the members believe that the Adeleke family is cornering the privileges coming to the town even when it is obvious that other qualified people should be considered. Our reporter gathered reliably in the town that the emergence of Adeleke forced the former Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Adejare Bello, and his followers out of the party. His followers believe that Bello or other qualified Ede indigenes should have been given the opportunity to emerge as the PDP candidate instead of Adeleke who replaced his late elder brother in the Senate.

    But Bello and his supporters are not alone, some other indigenes of the town also believe that it was wrong to have presented the new senator who has no higher education to represent the town as governor when there are well educated politicians who have also been contributing their own quota to the development of the town. Added to the above factor is the recent award of the contract for the rehabilitation of Ede-Ejigbo Road by the Aregbeshola administration, a decision that was applauded by many in the town. For these reasons, Adeleke may not enjoy block votes from Ede as it happened during his senatorial election. APC is likely to pull huge votes next to Adeleke in Ede. Iwo Though ADP’s Adeoti and ADC’s Akinbade hail from Iwo zone, many will be surprised at how APC will poll high number of votes in the zone. Though Adeoti and Akinbade are well known in the towns and communities in Iwo zone, their expected bloc votes are threatened by APC’s acceptance, particularly in Iwo town which has the largest population in the zone. The establishment in the town is largely behind the APC. This will weaken the chances of Adeoti producing bloc votes from the area. Even if the APC candidate comes second in Iwo, it will really weaken Adeoti’s chances because the town has a huge voting strength. Ilesa Ilesa, in this analysis, covers the entire Ijesa land, which comprises six local governments. The voting pattern in the zone is largely unpredictable. But APC will likely have a good showing in the area.

    The outgoing governor hails from Ilesa. The current Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, also hails from the area. It is, therefore, expected that their kinsmen will reward their sons’ selection and successes by voting massively for the APC candidate. One of the major roads leading to Ilesa will soon be awarded for reconstruction by the state government. But Omisore and Adeoti will also corner some votes from the area. While Omisore represented the area at the Senate twice, Adeoti’s party has some juggernauts in Ijesa land. Nonetheless, APC is expected to score the majority votes in the area. Ile-Ife This is the base of the SDP candidate, Omisore. Ile-Ife has the second largest voting strength in the state due to the Obafemi Awolowo University community. Omisore, who is a former deputy governor and senator, has proved to be a dogged fighter since his crisis with his former boss, Chiefs Bisi Akande and the late Bola Ige exploded in 2001. He was then the deputy governor under the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). He won his first senatorial election while in detention at Agodi, Ibadan prison during his trial over Bola Ige’s murder.

    Since then, he remained very popular in his town. This time, THE NATION gathered reliably that Omisore is sure to poll the highest number of votes in Ile-Ife and its environs. The surrounding communities include Garage Olode, Ifetedo and Ipetumodu. But the APC is hopeful; it believes it will poll sizable votes in these areas, given the number of people that have benefitted from the Aregbesola administration in the last eight years. Ejigbo Ejigbo is another town within Osun West Senatorial District which has a good number of voting population. The current Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam, is a native of Ejigbo. Feelers from the town show that he is well loved due to his accessibility, love and philanthropy. For the above reason, the APC will likely win in the town with wide margin.

    Iragbiji In Iragbiji, Oyetola’s home town, he is sure to poll the highest votes while in other towns such as Ikire, Gbongan, Odeomu, Ila, Iree and Okuku, the candidates will enjoy patronage based on the strength of their parties and candidates. Omisore is popular in some parts of Ikire zone. For being in government in the last eight years, it is expected that the APC will enjoy a good patronage from the voters across all parts of the state. Ikire Ikire is another town with sizable number of voters, particularly when joined with its surrounding communities such as Orile-Owu, Apomu and some surrounding villages. Oyetola’s running mate, Benedict Alabi, hails from the zone. Omisore’s running mate Lawal, also hails from the zone. But due to the influence of some PDP juggernauts in the zone, Adeleke’s PDP is tipped to have a fairly good showing in Ikire Zone.

    Oyetola, Omisore and Adeleke are likely to garner high number of votes in the area. Obviously, votes in the zone are most likely going to be divided. NEWS THE NATION I SATURDAY I SEPTEMBER 22 I 2018 3 Osun 2014 governorship election results LG APC PDP Ifedayo 4,225 3982 Boluwaduro 4,891 5,035 Ilesha East 16,106 5,913 Odo Otin 11,950 12,902 Ilesha West 15,427 5,449 Orolu 8,558 6,786 Oriade 12,523 10,214 Atakumosa 6,928 5,142 Ede South 11,738 7,462 Ila Oragun 10,825 7,916 Boripe 12,723 9,344 Irepodun 13,314 7,386 Ife Central 9,680 24,555 Ife East 13,821 20,831 Ola Oluwa 7,927 4,963 Isokan 9,758 10,028 Ife North 8,603 9,841 Ede North 15,403 10,427 Ifelodun 17,447 12,442 Ayedaade 12,801 11,255 Obokun 11,696 8,618 Irewole 18,328 10,330 Egbedore 10,215 7024 Aiyedire 7,724 7,813 Iwo 20,827 15,493 Osogbo 39,983 11,513 Olorunda 26,551 8,483 Ife South 7,325 12,811 Atakumota East 9,287 6,294 (Election did not hold in Alarere polling unit) Ejigbo 17,700 12,495 (11 polling units had over voting and forged signatures) Gbongan and Odeomu These are towns whose voting patterns are unpredictable. There are supporters of each of the five leading parties in the two towns. Yet, the majority may vote for the APC, the party having been impacting their lives and communities in the last eight years. In all, the four candidates that will most likely have the highest votes are Oyetola, Omisore, Adeoti and Adeleke in that order.

  • 2019: The unending ‘crucial meetings’ in Ikire

    Party officials across Irewole Local Govt area are all locked up in crucial meetings to fine tune strategies for victories on Saturday.

    Several efforts by this reporter for interviews with party chieftains in the local government has continued to hit brick-walls even till 10:15pm today.

    For instance, this reporter on three occasions made efforts to speak with PDP stalwarts in Ikire. One of the stalwarts, Peter Babalola, was said to be in a “crucial” meeting since 2pm.

    The Nation’s return visit on two other occasions to Babalola ‘s Ikire home yielded no positive result.

    Another PDP strongman in Ikire, Lere Oyewunmi, was said to be in Oshogbo, the state capital, finalising last minute strategies.

    When traced to his filling station along ikire-Ife expressway, he was also said to be unavailable although his G Wagon Mercedes Ben SUV was parked in front of the station.

    The Nation approached his wife after sighting in her mini mart located inside the filling station, which also yielded no fruits.

    A similar trip to the residence of Olayiwola Falabi, the SDP deputy gubernatorial candidate was fruitless.

    One of Falabi’s aides who attended to this reporter at the gate said he was in a crucial meeting.

    Similarly at the residence of Soji Ajayi of the ADP, the same scenario played out.

    The reporter was told by Ajayi’s aide to return art a later time.

    Perhaps indications that these party officials were only using the crucial meeting as an excuse to avoid the press played out at the residence of the APC member of the Osun State House of Assembly representing Ikire, Mr. Akinola Azifa.

    Arriving at Azifa’s residence, one of his aides after confirming his presence returned to say he was not at home.

    Reluctantly, the aide went back to Azifa and returned to say the usual “Oga is in a crucial meeting, which he however asked that we speak on phone.

    “I am in a crucial meeting now. Maybe you should come back,” Azifa said.

  • “Irewole will deliver for APC “

    The chairman of the APC in Irewole Local Govt area, Osun state, Owo ade Arimiyau, has said that the people of the local government area will reciprocate the “kind gesture” of the party by voting enmass for the party on Saturday.
    In an exclusive chat with The Nation, Arimiyau said as far as the people is concerned, it is a “block vote” for the APC.
    “This is our time to say thank you to APC for giving us the slot of Deputy Governor”.
    He revealed that the people of Ikire have benefitted immensely from the APC government, adding that since the party has honoured Ikire people,  it is only natural to reciprocate the gesture.
    He dismissed the planned alliance of four parties to  challenge APC and described it as “an effort in futility”.
    “We are hopeful that God will  crown our efforts. The way people have received us gives us absolute confidence of victory,” he said.
    He further revealed that even the traditional ruling council of Ikire have resolved to support their son (Alabi) in the election .

  • Support for Adeleke from unsuspected quarters

    The country home of the Adelekes in Ede, which served as the constituency office of the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke and now as that of Senator Ademola Adeleke, was swarming with gaily-dressed red-cap chiefs and women dressed like those from the Southeast when ‘The Nation’ called at the venue on Friday afternoon.

    Indeed, the standard bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in tomorrow’s governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, is enthusiastically supported in the bid to take over the Government House in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, by his compatriots from across the River Niger.

    Sen. Adeleke’s mother, Mrs. Nnena Esther Adeleke, hails from the coal city state Enugu, in the Southeast geo-political zone.
    One of such supporters, a red-cap chief, told our reporter in confidence that the Adeleke brothers, including Senator Ademola Adeleke, had always maintained a cordial relationship with people from the Southeast, particularly those living in Osun State.
    He said: “Igbos living in Osun State have always had a good relationship with the Adelekes. We Supported Ademola Adeleke when he contested and won the Osun West senatorial by-election in July 2017.”

  • Osun 2018: APC will emerge victorious – Etteh

    A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, has expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), will emerge victorious on Saturday’s in Osun election.
    Etteh, in an exclusive chat with The Nation from her Ikire home, said the party was 100 percent ready for the election.
    She however said it might not be a huge landslide victory for the ruling party.
    “It might not be a serious landslide victory for us because 48 candidates and parties are contesting the election. But I can assure you that come tomorrow by the special grace of God, APC will be victorious,” she said.
    The former Speaker said she is unaware of any talk of alliance by some candidates.
    Etteh said based on what has been happening in the political landscape of Ikire, there was peace in the environment.
    She further said that there had been times when three or four parties held rallies on the same day without violence. This, she explained is an indication that the town is politically matured.
    “Forget about us being the ruling party. From what is on ground in Osun, hardly can you say there is a difference between Osun and Lagos. There is nothing in Lagos that is not here.
    “The new development that our party has brought to Osun is a plus for us I  this election. In the area of education, we have also done well because our governor is keen about education. Water supply and electricity is stable”.
    “The salary problem is a general one across the country and we have been able to pay four months arrears. All these will contribute to our success on Saturday.”

  • ‘PDP’s dominance in Ede has ended’

    Former Speaker of the Osun State of House of Assembly, Hon. Adejare Bello, has said the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ede has ended.
    Bello, who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) recently, said the outcome of the election in the two local governments that makes up Ede could go anyway.
    The former Speaker told our reporter on Friday over the telephone that the election was likely to be a 50-50 affair between the PDP and the APC.
    “I won’t say because I now belong to the APC that the ruling party will win hands down in the area. It’s going to be anybody’s game tomorrow in Ede. The PDP will make an appreciable impact in the area, because that is where it’s governorship candidate (Adeleke) is from” he said.
    “But a number of other eminent politicians in the APC are also indigenes of the area, so the the ruling party will give the PDP a run for its money in the two local government”.
    “The PDP is likely to do well in Ede on Sartuday. But, whether it is going to be 55 per cent, 51 per cent or 50 per cent, I cannot say at the moment. The Ede vote is going to be split between the two major parties, with the other parties trailing behind.”
    Bello further said the APC standard bearer in the election, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, would carry the day, after tomorrow’s contest.
    The former PDP chieftain said the party is hopelessly divided in Osun State and cannot make the sort of impact people are expecting.
    He said: “Many of us felt aggrieved and left the party, because of the division within its fold. The support Senator Iyiola Omisore is enjoying in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) used to belong to the PDP”.
    “The same goes for Mr. Fatai Akinbade of the African Democratic Party (ADC), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola also of the ADC and myself. Most of the votes that would be cast for the APC tomorrow in my constituency used to be for the PDP.”

  • Adeoti, Omisore, Akinbade meeting deadlocked

    The last minute attempt by three governorship candidates to present a common candidate for Saturday’s election has failed.
    The candidates involved were Alhaji Moshood Adeoti of Action Democratic Party (ADP), Senator Iyiola Omisore,  Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Alhaji Fatai Akinbode, African Democratic Congress (ADC).
    Reliable sources disclosed that the the meeting was held at the instance of some Yoruba elders who wanted the three parties to present a common front to dislodge All Progressives Congress (APC)  from  power in Osun State.
    None of  the three candidates, according to our source, was ready to step down at the meeting held on Wednesday night through early Thursday morning.
    Adeoti ‘s media aide,  Mr Kayode Agbaje confirmed that three candidates met but he said it was not about stepping down for each other.
    Rather, Agbaje said there coming  together was to ensure that their polling agents collaborate at the polling units  to guarantee free and fair election and that the results announced reflect the people’s will.
    Agbaje said the candidates insist that the process must be credible  and if any other party tries to play a smart game that would undermine the process, the candidates would reject it.
    He said his principal does not have to merge with any party to win today’s election because he is the candidate to beat.

  • Osun poll: Oluwo cautions against violence

    The paramount ruler of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi has cautioned his subjects against causing violence in today’s governorship election in Osun State.

    The monarch who spoke to our correspondent in his palace on Friday said: “If you cause violence and you are caught by the security operatives, you will go to jail.”

    “That is why I have been telling my people to ensure a violence-free election. Whoever wins should be accepted as our governor. Politics is not a do or die. We have a governorship candidate from Iwo. As a royal father, I cannot take side, all the candidates are my children whoever that emerges is our governor and I am ready to work with him.”

    The Oluwo charged the security operatives to be pro-active by quelling any form of violence promptly. He added that they should arrest and prosecute the suspects in court.

    He insists that “we don’t want any problem or violence in this election because it will create bad image not only for Iwo but the whole country”.

    He recalled that during the 1983 general elections, many people were killed in Iwo, many houses were burnt and some of them have not being repaired till date.

    The monarch also advised politicians against the winner takes –all syndrome; instead they should run an all-inclusive government. He said the winner should include the best brain from the opposition side in his government in the interest of the state.

    Similarly, the APC Chairman, Osun West Senatorial District, Hon. Amobi Akintola said the party had educated its members to guide against violence. According to him, we told them “go and vote, don’t fight”.

    Akintola said the APC was fully prepared for today’s election and he was sure the party would come out victorious at the end of the day.