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Tag: Osun-West

  • APC Rep pushing Osun West for governor

    •Elder warns against zoning

    An Osun State governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gafar Akintayo Amere, has warned that Osun West Senatorial District should not be denied the chance to produce the next governor, if the party hopes to win the September 22 governorship poll.

    Amere, who is the member of the House of Representatives representing Iwo/Ayedire/Ola-Oluwa Federal Constituency, said the zone had waited long enough to produce a governor.

    Addressing reporters in Osogbo, the state capital, the APC chieftain said the West was in the saddle for only 22 months, while Osun Central had ruled for over 11 years and the East would have ruled for eight years after Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s two terms.

    According to him, the agitation for Osun West to produce the next governor has become a movement that will be difficult or impossible to contain, if the party does not pick a governorship candidate to fly its flag for the forthcoming poll from Osun West.

    He said: “Though the issue of zoning might not be in the party’s constitution, but it is only fair that the next governor should come from Osun West Senatorial District, which has not ruled the state except for just 22 months out of the over 21 years of democratic rules in the state.

    “Series of researches by independent bodies have clearly shown that the best way for the APC to win the September 22 governorship election is to present a candidate from the West.

    “Our party in government under Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration has done significantly well in human and capital development. That would count in the coming election. But presenting a candidate outside the West might spoil our chances.”

    Amere advised fellow aspirants from Osun West to join forces to show the seriousness of their agitation.

    Describing himself as the best candidate from Osun West, the Pac aspirant said he had a better chance of winning the election for the party.

    He added that he possessed the capacity and qualities to occupy the exalted position and build on the achievements of Aregbesola’s administration in all sectors of the economy.

    The Federal lawmaker, who promised innovations to make life more abundant for the people of the state, said he would leverage on his performance in the National Assembly to impact positively on the lives of the people of the state.

    Also, a leading member of the Elders Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Otunba Jumoke Ogunkeyede, has cautioned those clamouring for zoning the governorship position to Osun West Senatorial District.

    Ogunkeyede said the party’s leadership would not be coerced into deviating from its rules and regulations.

    Apparently referring to the Elders Caucus meeting held recently in Ede, where some members canvassed for the Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s successor to be picked from Osun West Senatorial District, the APC chieftain warned that elders should not work for their own personal interest.

    Addressing reporters in Osogbo, the state capital, Ogunkeyede noted that agitation for narrow interest would not stand.

    He said all the 27 aspirants contesting on the platform of APC should be given equal opportunity to contest the July 7 primary of the party.

    The party chieftain debunked the rumour that majority of Osun APC leadership had agreed to zone the governorship ticket to the West Senatorial District.

    He said: “Why would only 11 people call themselves Agba Osun? They cannot claim, on behalf of all of us, that the governorship ticket has been zoned to Osun West. As one of the Agba Osun APC, I don’t know where we met and made the decision on zoning. I want them to mention names of those who were present at the meeting and the place.

    “There is no reason to say governorship ticket should be zoned to Osun West. There is nothing significant in West that is not present in the East and Central. The election is for all the State of Osun indigenes and, therefore, every aspirant must be given equal right to run for the election.”

    Ogunkeyede, who noted that zoning was not stipulated in the constitution of the APC, insisted that the party’s supremacy must be allowed.

    He said: “Aregbesola has performed excellently. He runs a government with clear vision; his plans have really helped the state to develop, in comparison to the immediate past administration in the state.

    “So, whoever wishes our party well should allow the chairman with all executive and delegates of the party, to discharge their duties without any influence of zoning agenda.”

     

  • Osun West poll: Adeleke’s victory excites Makarfi, Sheriff

    Osun West poll: Adeleke’s victory excites Makarfi, Sheriff

    •Adeleke: my victory gives hope to Osun PDP in 2018 poll

    The victory of Mr Ademola Adeleke in Saturday’s  Osun West senatorial district by-election appear to have renewed hopes in the two factions of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Ali Modu Sheriff’s leadership and the Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee of the party have continued to bask in the euphoria of the PDP candidate’s victory.

    In a statement yesterday by the spokesman of the Makarfi group, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the party described the victory as a reflection of the reawakening of Nigerians to the alleged deceit of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

    Makarfi mocked the APC, saying the electorate in Osun State rejected the ruling party.

    The statement said: “The people have spoken with one voice and we know that Ademola Adeleke will deliver on his promises to the people.

    “The successful outcome of this election is an evidence of hard work, dedication and the unity of all members of the PDP in Osun State who buried temporary differences in the overall interest of the party and the good people of Osun State.

    “We are confident that without the interference of the APC in the current leadership issues in our party, the PDP remains the party to beat in all elections in Nigeria.

    “Even as we await the judgment of the Supreme Court, we urge our members to unite in the interest of Nigerians to rid the country of the horrible APC government.

    “Finally, we congratulate the people of Osun West for coming out en mass to vote for our candidate and for their peaceful conduct during the election. We also congratulate our members in Osun State for this important victory.”

    In a separate statement, the party’s National Secretary, Prof Wale Oladipo, said the outcome of the poll reflected the wishes of the electorate.

    Oladipo hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the electorate for the peaceful conduct of the poll.

    The party’s secretary noted that the peaceful conduct of the by-election rekindled hope in the nation’s electoral system.

    He said the PDP’s candidate won the election, despite all odds and the power of incumbency “nakedly displayed” by the APC-controlled state government.

    Oladipo attributed the victory to the absence of impunity through which Adeleke was elected, adding that PDP’s leadership refused to impose a candidate for the election.

    The statement added: “We have to thank all the stakeholders in the bye election for their peaceful conduct and for allowing the votes of the electorate to count this time around -no tales of inconclusive election.

    “We are very happy as a political party. The outcome of the election reflected the wishes of the Osun West senatorial district electorate.

    “INEC’s officials, security agencies and the electorate, by their exemplary conduct, have made a great contribution to deepening our hard-earned democracy.

    “The future of the country is very bright if INEC will continue to handle future elections in the country as it did in the Osun by-election.”

    Senator-elect for Osun West Senatorial District, Ademola Adeleke, yesterday said his victory in last Saturday’s by-election brought hope to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s governorship election in the state.

    He also said his victory on the platform of the PDP was a testament that Nigerian democracy was alive.

    Addressing reporter in Ede, Adeleke said Nigerians must allow democracy to continue to grow as the people of Osun State have demonstrated in the by-election.

    The senator-elect said his victory proved that the power of incumbency could be defeated at the poll, if there was a collective will to achieve a good purpose.

    He said: “The PDP’s victory in the election was a glimmer of hope and light in the party. It would surely shine forth and pave way for another victory yet again in the forthcoming governorship election in the state next year as well as the general election in 2019.

    “My middle name, Nurudeen, means light (in Arabic); in Yoruba, it means Imole. So, my new position as a senator would bring light to Osun State and Osun West constituency for dividends of democracy. With light, the darkness pervading the land and poverty and backwardness among our people would be over.

    “I promise to tread on my late brother’s people-oriented path. I will toe his path the way he cared for the less privileged through empowerment programmes and put smiles on their faces. I have learnt enough from him.”

    Adeleke announced a N250 million scholarship for the education of indigent children in his constituency.

    He said the scholarship would soon be shared equally among the 10 local government areas in Osun West.

  • Osun West by-election and its implications for 2018

    Osun West by-election and its implications for 2018

    A commentator, Debo Ayoade, examines the implications of the Osun West senatorial by-election for the next year’s governorship election in the State of Living Springs.

    On Saturday, July 8, the electorate in Osun West Senatorial District will go to the poll in a by-election to fill the vacant seat of the Late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. Osun State has being a two party State since the inception of this Republic.  The dominating parties have been the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any of its progressive forebears, that is Alliance for Democracy, Action Congress or Action Congress of Nigeria on one part and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the other part. Efforts by other parties to encroach by poaching aspirants who were dis-satisfied with the above political parties for one reason or the other in Osun State, have not succeeded so far like in other states. For both parties therefore, it matters that the forthcoming election is won, as it will be a psychological boost for 2018 governorship election in the State.

    Otunba Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke of the PDP and Senator Mudasiru Oyetunde Husain of the APC personify the proverbial “two horse race”. Otunba Ademola Adeleke is the junior brother of the Late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, whilst Senator Mudasiru Husain was the Senator who represented the senatorial constituency between 2011 and 2015. Otunba Adeleke had earlier made his intention to run for the seat known within the APC fold but shifted his allegiance to PDP, when the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC gave Senator Husain was given the nod to run by APC’s NWC. The Screening Committee and the Screening Appeal Committee had earlier disqualified Husain from running for the by-election.

    The issues likely to come up during the campaign are multifarious. Whilst other issues may still come up, some issues that will definitely be raised are as follows:

    1. Will there be sympathy votes for Otunba Adeleke in view of the fact that his elder brother Senator Isiaka Adeleke just died?
    2. Will the votes of Ede, the town where the Adelekes hail be sufficient to deliver the senatorial district for PDP?
    3. Will it make a difference that Senator Husain hail from Ejigbo, the town that also produce the Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly and the Honourable Member House of Representatives hail from Ejigbo, a town within the same federal constituency as Ede and one of the three federal constituencies in the senatorial district?
    4. Will the issue of the negative reportage of the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola affect the fortunes of Senator Husain?
    5. Will party loyalty prevail in APC despite rumblings within the ranks of some party leaders personally close to the Governor?
    6. And will the senatorial by-election affect the 2018 governorship race?

    Unlike other States where either by-election or general election has taken place in recent times, PDP is not divided on the candidature of Otunba Adeleke. He is more or less a consensus candidate. The reason is not far-fetched. Senator Iyiola Omisore being a smart politician used the opportunity of the candidature of Otunba Adeleke to close ranks with the Adeleke family and with the Sheriff Faction, which is obviously more on ground in Osun. He belongs to the Makarfi Faction. He also had brouhaha with the Late Senator Adeleke, who was reportedly rough-handled by Senator Omisore’s pal and former Minister for Police Affairs Jelili Adesiyan in 2014 at Ideal Nest Hotel, Osogbo during the PDP governorship election screening and primaries.

    In the up coming election, Ede will definitely vote for theirs, as they did for the elder brother. My prediction however is that even in Ede, the victory will not be landslide. There are already complaints and anxieties among the elites of Ede and even in the camp of Senator Isiaka Adeleke about attempt to turn Ede into “Kwara”. Otunba Adeleke’s father was a Senator in the second republic under the banner of Unity Party of Nigeria; his brother, the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke was a Governor (1992 – 1993) and served twice as Senator (2007 – 2011 and 2015 – 2017).

    While Senator Husain from Ejigbo was serving, the lot fell on an Ede man to become the Honourable Member, House of Representatives. With the stepping down of Senator Husain in 2015 and the emergence of Senator Isiaka Adeleke from Ede however, the lot correspondingly fell on an Ejigbo man as Honourable Member, House of Representatives. There is no visible indication at the moment that where Senator Husain comes from would matter in this election. It may one more time be an acid test of the robust, matured and enlightened politics of South Western Nigeria.

    Despite the explanation of the State Government that what it pays the civil servant is what it can afford at the moment and what it agreed with the Labour Union to pay, Osun has become a metaphor for non-payment of salaries.

    The Osun State APC Reactionary Forces recently emerged. The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Honourable Lasun Yussuff represents one fold. He hitherto belonged to Aregbesola’s kitchen cabinet and was highly favoured by Ogbeni Aregbesola. They however fell apart on June 9, 2015 when Honourable Lasun Yusuf decided to disobey the southwest leadership of the party’s decision to support Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila’s ambition to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He chose to run instead as the Deputy Speaker. He has obviously lost favour of the party leadership in the state and in southwest. No party leader is known to be supporting his bid to be governor.

    The second fold of reactionary forces within Osun APC are Alhaji Fatai Diekola and Honourable SundayAkere, who was the erstwhile Commissioner for Information and Strategy. They fell out with the Governor for a plethora of reasons. Chiefly among these are their claim that the Governor was running the state government alone, without a cabinet and without consulting party leaders and stakeholders, before decisions are taken.

    The variables to the query relating to the consequence of the outcome of the 2017 senatorial by-election vis a vis the 2018 governorship election in Osun State are too numerous. APC, judging from all the previous elections in the state, is clearly the party to beat. Will the party-faithfuls tow the party line and vote according to party dictate? Are there intra-party squabbles that have not reared its ugly head?

    It is difficult to see if peradventure Otunba Ademola Adeleke wins the election, he will desire to run for governorship. He seems too green and unprepared for this. He may however be relevant when PDP is choosing who will run as running mate to the gubernatorial candidate, if the PDP governorship candidate is not from Osun West. If he loses the election on the other hand, it will amount to a short journey to “neverland”. It will most likely be one of the shortest political careers in history. It will also be a severe blow for the ego of his family.

    It is sufficient to say at the moment that in PDP, Senator Iyiola Omisore is trying his possible best to mend fences with Sheriff’s faction. He is from Ile-Ife and contested the 2014 governorship election against Governor Aregbesola. He is obviously warming up. He has been delivering lectures and repackaging himself. He also has financial muscle to flex; this will matter as PDP is no longer in power. During the 2014 governorship election he chose Rt. Hon. Adejare Bello from Ede as his running mate, he may consider picking Otunba Ademola Adeleke, if the latter becomes a Senator.

    Since Senator Iyiola Omisore is just mending fence with the ‘recognised’ PDP, others who are interested and eminently qualified may shut him out. They must however speak in unison and be resolute, which however is almost impossible in politics. Otherwise, he still seems to be the most potent force in PDP. Apart from Senator Iyiola Omisore, the other possible PDP contestants include:

    1. Alhaji Fatai Akinbade (Ogbagba, Osun West). Former Secretary Osun State Government;
    2. Chief Lere Oyewumi (Ikire, Osun West). Former Local Government Chairman, Former House of Representatives Member, presently Commissioner, National Population Commission;
    3. Rt. Hon. Adejare Bello (Ede, Osun West). Former Speaker Osun State House of Assembly, Senator Omisore’s running mate;
    4. Senator Kola Ogunwale (Iragbiji, Osun Central), Senator 2003 – 2007
    5. Barrister Kayode Oduoye (Ikirun, Osun Central), Ifelodun, Boripe, Odo-Otin Federal Constituency candidate 2015; and
    6. Dr. Ayoade Adewopo (Ile-Ife, Osun East), a lawyer and academia; and
    7. Chief Gbenga Owolabi (Ile-Ife, Osun East). Former Chairman, Ife East Local Government.

    Since Aregbesola is from Osun East senatorial district, will Senator Omisore still run for the governorship seat? The politics of zoning in Osun State is very interesting. Osun like every other state has three senatorial districts; West, Central and East. Osun also has nine federal constituencies, each senatorial district having three constituencies each. West – Iwo, Ikire, Ede; Central – Osogbo, Ikirun, Ila; and East – Ife, Ijesa South, Ijesa North. Whereas in the first republic, the entire Osun State as it is now has six Administrative Divisions, coincidentally, there are two each in every senatorial districts. West – Iwo and Ede, Central – Osogbo and Ila; and East – Ife and Ijesa. There are five sub-ethnic groups in Osun – Igbomina Osun, Osun Osun, Oyo Osun, Ife Osun and Ijesa Osun. All the military administrators were not from Osun State, meanwhile, there have been four civilian governors in the state. The Governors are as follows:

    1.  Senator Isiaka Adeleke (1992 – 1993). Osun West Senatorial District, Ede Federal Constituency, Ede Division, Oyo Osun;
    2. Chief Adebisi Akande (1999 – 2003). Osun Central, Ila Federal Constituency, Ila Division, Igbomina Osun;
    3. Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (2003 – 2010). Osun Central Senatorial District, Ifelodun, Boripe, Odo-Otin Federal Constituency, Ila Division, Osun Osun; and
    4. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2010 – till date). Osun East, Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Ijesa Division, Ijesa Osun.

    Whilst it is obvious that at no point did Osun people sat to decide on zoning, it is only fair that geographical spread principle are adopted. Osun West have argued that it has been long the governorship came to their senatorial district, the Iwo bloc have maintained that if it has to come to West, it should be Iwo Division. The Osogbo Division argues that they are equally entitled, since their divisions have also been eluded. The Ife people have additionally indicated that although Aregbesola is from their senatorial district, he is not only from another Division but also from another sub-ethnic group. Stating that all other sub-ethnic groups have been opportune to produce governor except Ife.

    The following are the potential governorship candidates of APC:

    1. Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (Iragbiji, Osun Central). The Chief of Staff to the Governor;
    2. Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (Iwo, Osun West). Former Local Government Caretaker Chairman, Former Party Chairman, current Secretary to State Government;
    3. Rt. Hon. Nojeem Salaam (Ejigbo, Osun West). Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly;
    4. Elder Peter Babalola (Ikire, Osun West).  Former Commissioner and Chief of Staff.
    5. Barrister Kunle Adegoke (Osogbo, Osun Central). Practising Legal Practitioner;
    6. Senator Babajide Omoworare (Ile-Ife, Osun East).  Former Majority Leader, currently a Senator;
    7. Barrister Ajibola Bashir  (Osogbo, Osun Central), Former Commissioner, current Attorney General;
    8. Hon. Mojeed Alabi (Ejigbo, Osun West). Former Speaker, House of Assembly, currently Honourable Member, House of Representatives; and
    9. Mr. Bola Oyebamiji (Ikire, Osun West). Former Managing Director, Osun State Investment Company, currently Finance Commissioner.

    As a sidekick, I think I should mention that in spite of the fact that generally speaking, religion does not make any difference in Osun State, nay, the whole of South Western Nigeria. The Osun State Governor seems to have up the ante in this regard that the Christians are clamouring for the governorship. If I may ask rhetorically, why would Otunba Ademola Adeleke change his middle name with which he registered as a voter overnight from “Jackson” to “Nurudeen”? Ede is predominantly Muslim, Otunba Adeleke’s father’s religion; but he obviously hitherto practised his mother’s religion, Christianity.

    In conclusion, it is not clear whether zoning would be adopted or not. In view of its “triple barrel effect” it is also not clear what effect the victory of Senator Mudasiru Husain at the 8th July election may potential have on zoning in Osun State. Not with standing that it is on everyone’s tongue that the Governor and some leaders already have a favourite, it may be a hoax and some under dogs among the potentials may actually be supported.

    • Ayoade, an advertising executive and communications consultant from Ede, Osun State, writes from Lagos.
  • Osun West by-election: Will Hussain succeed Adeleke?

    Osun West by-election: Will Hussain succeed Adeleke?

    In this piece, Tunde Oladunjoye writes on the Osun West Senatorial by-election and the chances of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Senator Mudashiru Hussain at the poll.

    Given available statistics, that are quite verifiable, we can now firmly declare, barring unforeseen circumstances though, that Senator Mudashiru Oyetunde Husain is evidently tipped to return to the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly after the conclusion of the July 8, 2017 Osun West Senatorial by-election.

    As he coasts to victory on the election date, it will be history beckoning to Husain again to return to the exalted seat, which he vacated in 2015 in deference to leadership of his party, All Progressives Congress (APC) which directed him to step down for late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, who had earlier defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to join the emergent mega-party, (APC) which had just landed on the political scene with a big bang in the year 2015 and eventually, and historically, sent the incumbent government at the center packing.

    Senator Husain had earlier in April 2011 defeated Senator Adeleke in the Senatorial election of that year.  Husain had scored a total 121,971 votes to trounce Adeleke, the incumbent Senator who scored 77,090 votes. The winning margin was a whopping 44,881 votes in favour of Husain.

    Historically, the progressive political parties starting with the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), through Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and now, the All Progressives Congress (APC), have since 1999 till date out-performed the conservatives as represented by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in the State of Osun.

    The only period the conservatives took charge of the State of Osun was when the PDP was touted as the winner of the governorship election of 2003, which enabled the PDP to be in power for almost seven years, no thanks to the manipulative politics introduced by the PDP, and which was shamelessly encouraged by the power centre in Abuja at the time in question.

    A court verdict was to terminate the illegitimate hold of the PDP on the State of Osun and which happily returned power to the progressives with the inauguration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in October 2010 as the authentic winner of the controversial governorship election of April 2007.

    With regard to the latest Senatorial election in Osun West, it cannot be contested that the progressives, as represented by the APC, are still far ahead of the conservatives in the PDP, as typified by the outcome of political contests between the two in the not-too-distant past.

    In the first instance, in the April 2011 Senatorial election in which Husain of ACN trounced the then sitting Senator, Isiaka Adeleke, of the PDP, the ACN netted 121,971 votes as against PDP’s woeful 77,090 votes. The margin was quite awesome with 44,881 votes in favour of ACN.

    Again in the Senatorial election of March 2015, the progressives who had by then come together, out of sheer political expediency, to form a mega-party as in the All Progressives Congress (APC), thoroughly floored the PDP. While the APC coasted to victory in that election with a whopping 133,009 votes, the PDP only managed to take home a pitiable score of 79,296 votes, leaving a wide margin of 53,713 votes again in favour of APC.

    The impressive performance of the APC in that particular election it must be acknowledged however, was buoyed further by the defection of the duo of Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Isiaka Adeleke, popular grassroot politicians from PDP to APC earlier that year.

    Much earlier, in the 2014 gubernatorial election, Ogbeni Aregbesola of the APC won a landslide victory with an impressive score totalling 132,822 votes while Iyiola Omisore of the PDP scored 97,285 votes with a wide margin of 35,537 votes also in favour of APC.

    Moreover, the State Assembly election in 2015 also presented the APC as a clean winner with a total of 109,783 votes leaving its arch-rival, the PDP with only 51,540 votes. A wide margin of 58,243 votes was thus secured deservedly for the ever-dominant APC.

    Considering the voting strength of both the APC and PDP, the two dominant parties in the coming by-election especially in the critical local government areas of the two leading candidates, Husain and Adeleke, it would be seen quite clearly that the APC remains ahead of the PDP.

    In the 2015 Senatorial election, for example, in Ejigbo LGA, the home base of Husain, the APC scored 17,420 votes while the PDP scored 10,029 votes.  In Ede North LGA, the home of Adeleke, the APC scored 16,234 votes while the PDP got 10,427 votes. In Ede South, also home to Adeleke, the APC again scored 12,344 votes with the PDP going home with only 6,746 votes, a little over half of APC’s grand score.

    In the State Assembly polls also in 2015, APC scored 11,481 votes against PDP 9,423 in Ede North LGA, while APC scored 9,679 votes as against 5,409 votes obtained by the PDP in Ede South LGA. In contrast in Ejigbo LGA, the same APC received an impressive figure of 17,956 votes as opposed to the PDP’s miserable collection of a mere 5,455 votes, a third of APC’s wholesome worth.

    In the governorship election of 2014, the APC grossed 15, 403 votes while PDP went with only 10,427 votes in Ede North LGA. In Ede South LGA, the APC scored 11,738 votes while PDP obtained only 7,462 votes. And in Ejigbo LGA, APC again, made an impressive showing having scored 17,700 votes vis-à-vis 12,490 votes left for the PDP.

    Ede, the home-based of the late Isiaka Adeleke and his younger brother contesting on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will not be a work-over for the PDP.

    One, the late Adeleke himself, had successfully the PDP to sleep in the town so much so that the party’s Secretariat is in a state of total disrepair and politicians that mattered have since followed late Adeleke to APC and remained in APC.

    In terms of political appointments, the Rauf Aregbesola-led Administration has been most particularly generous to Ede zone in the Osun West Secretariat District.  The zone boasts of four commissioners among whom is Chief (Mrs) Idiat Babalola.

    In infrastructure, Ede is not left out. The government of Aregbesola has built modern educational facilities at Adventist High School, Ede whose structures are even comparable to that of private university.

    Not long ago, the commercial activities of the ancient town got a boost when Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola reactivated the cocoa industry at Ede which has been abandoned since 2001. The factory now produces 200,000 tonnes of cocoa daily with multiplier effects on the state economy, transportation, agriculture and employment with Ede as the immediate beneficiary.

    In all the other seven LGAs in the Osun West Senatorial District, the APC was clearly in the lead in all the elections as highlighted above.

    In the three elections, the margin marks between the APC and the PDP were recorded as follow: Governorship (2014)  35,537 votes; Senatorial (2015)  41,054 votes; and State Assembly  58,243 votes, all in favour of APC.

    Interestingly still, the accumulative margin range of all the three political contests, as revealed above, stands at an impressive level of 64,359 votes and still in favour of the APC. And this is even more than the total score of the PDP in both the 2014 and 2015 gubernatorial and State Assembly elections respectively.

    All these empirical statistics, no doubt, underscore the dominant position of the APC in Osun State politics and not the least that of Osun West Senatorial District where a by-election has been fixed for Saturday July 8, 2017.

    The PDP in the State of Osun, like elsewhere in the country, is already in tatters, what with its numerous irreconcilable factions, who continue to work at cross-purposes. Frustrated and determined to bail themselves out of the foggy situation, the remaining few members of the beleaguered party are seen streaming out daily to the APC.

    For now and even for a long time to come, the PDP, as it were, cannot claim to be strong and competitive enough to stand in the way of the APC.

    It is significant at this juncture to affirm that all the opposition camps – PDP, SDP, LP -, cannot rattle the APC in the by-election. In all these analysed elections, all the votes of the PDP and all other parties that contested in the elections still lagged behind the scores of the APC. Infact, no major upset is anticipated in the coming political battle as the APC is tipped to carry the day.

  • Osun senatorial by-election: Youths back Hussein

    Osun senatorial by-election: Youths back Hussein

    A youths’ group, Ejigbo Progressive Youths Association (EPYA), has hailed the election of Senator Mudashiru Hussein as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Osun West Senatorial District’s by-election on July 8.

    In a statement yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, by its National President, Comrade Rasaq Ojetunji and National Secretary, Comrade David Abiodun, EPYA described Hussein’s election as “historic, popular and appropriate”.

    It noted that APC could not have made a better choice, given the prevailing circumstances.

    The group hailed the state leadership of the APC for considering Hussein fit for the seat.

    It assured the party that the senator would live up to expectations, if elected.

    EPYA said Hussein’s nomination would ensure continuity, adding that he is not only a senator who once represented the district but one who voluntarily left the seat for the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke in 2015, on party’s advice.

    The group said Hussein remained friendly and loyal to the late Adeleke throughout his tenure.

    EPYA said: “Against that lofty backcloth, it is only fair and proper that Senator Hussein should be given the popular mandate to continue from where the late Adeleke left the stage.”

     

     

     

  • INEC fixes July 8 for Osun West Senatorial bye-election

    INEC fixes July 8 for Osun West Senatorial bye-election

    The Independent National​Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed July 8 for Osun-West Senatorial District bye-election to elect a new senator for the constituency after the sudden death of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke.

    In a notice by Administrative Secretary, INEC, Osun, Mr. E.A Ademusire, in Osogbo on Monday, conduct of parties’ primaries would commence on Tuesday through June14 while the election would hold on July 8.

    The notice stated that bye-election was scheduled consequent upon the position of the enabling status that bye-elections to fill the declared vacant seat by the National Assembly be conducted within 30 days upon the declaration.

    “Take note that by the directives of the Chairman, Independent National​Electoral Commission’s bye-election for Osun West Senatorial seat will hold on Saturday, July 8, 2017.”

    The attachment to the notice however indicated that last day of submission of party nomination form is June 15, publication of nominated candidate’s names, June 22 and submission of names and addresses of party agents to INEC officer, June 30.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Osun West Senatorial seat became vacant after the sudden death of Isiaka Adeleke on April 23.