Tag: Ademola Adeleke

  • APC plans to carry out violence, vote manipulation in Osun – PDP alleges

    Osun State PDP Governorship Campaign Council has has raised the alarm over alleged planned violence and compromise of the July governorship election in the state by the APC.

    The joint Legal, Media and Security Committees of the council raised the alarm at a press briefing on Monday.

    The PDP accused the APC of having three evil agenda ahead of the July 16 governorship poll, an implementation on which has started going by recent sad developments in the state.

    Senator Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organisation’s Chairman, Legal Committee, Niyi Owolade, and Chairman, Media And Strategy Committee, Prince Diran Odeyemi, signed the press document.

    The campaign body ilistd what it called, “Emerging time bombs the state chapter of the All Progressive Congress is planting to pre-determine the outcome of the forthcoming polls and deny suffering masses of Osun State the constitutionally guaranteed rights to select their Governor under a free and fair electoral process.”

    Related News: Osun 2022: Why Ademola Adeleke’s fresh bid to govern Osun State might not succeed

    It added, “Our press briefing is focusing on three evil agenda of the APC whose implementation has started going by recent sad developments in the state. These include direct violence on (the) PDP leaders and supporters, appointment of a compromised State Returning Officer in person of the Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, and deployment of ill-gotten wealth to buy votes and compromise the electoral architecture.

    “At a time the PDP is mobilising the people of the state for mass participation, we regret to announce that the APC is preoccupied with how to kill, maim and rig the election under an advanced anti-people agenda.”

    “In the last three weeks, (the) APC has embarked on systematic attacks on (the) PDP supporters using the Amotekun operatives. This violent agenda reached a peak few days ago with the gruesome killing in cold blood of Akinpelu Kasim and Waheed Adebayo, and shooting of Adesina Opeyemi, innocent citizens, who were shot dead by some Amotekun Corps (officers) on Tuesday 14th June, 2022, around 9am at Asoje Area, Osogbo, Osun State.

    “It is regrettable that the Amotekun Security Outfit established for the purpose of strengthening regional security of boundaries to curb the activities of bandits, kidnappers, terrorists, etc. has now become a tool of oppression and attack in the hands of some desperate politicians of the ruling Party in Osun State, the APC, launching offensive weapons and dangerous ammunition to intimidate, oppress and harass members of the PDP in Osun State so as to desperately have their way in the coming Osun Governorship election in less than 30days from now.”

    The party further alleged that officers of the Amotekun Corps were providing cover for “the APC political thugs and move around with the said thugs to intimidate and oppress especially members of the PDP, but this has now degenerated to shooting at and killing of innocent citizens.

    “The identified Amotekun Corps are (1)Tajudeen Adeleke (2)Azeez Tirimisiyu (3) Adeoye Lateef (4) Nafisat (5) Olawuyi Opeyemi (5) Odelade Adetayo (6) Adegbesan Adebayo (7) Idowu Fatai (7) Ajiboye Oluwaseun (8) Afolabi Peter (9) Ayobami Obaluwa.

    “A notorious thug, masquerading as chieftain of National Union of Road Transport Workers in the State, Asiri Eniba and his squad are the major tools of the violent attacks, but the dimension introduced to it by the Osun State Command of the South West Security Outfit called the Amotekun is worrisome, insulting, offensive and criminal to the extent that killing, maiming and harassment of citizens (are) now business as usual.

    “It is also regrettable to note that the said Asiri Eniba has some security details (SPU) attached to him by the Osun State Command of the Nigeria Police, influenced by the Governor Oyetola-led APC government in Osun State. This gives him a free hand and the impetus to operate wickedly and violently while the police always looked the other way,” the PDP alleged.

    The PDP therefore rejected the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, by the Independent National Electoral Commission as the State Returning Officer for the July 16 governorship election, alleging that the VC “was part of (the) Ekiti APC campaign on more than five occasions.”

    “As much as we have confidence that adherence to the spirit and letters of the Electoral Act will guarantee free and fair election, we reject the appointment of Prof Adebowale as State Returning Officer for the July 16th election on account of partisanship and affiliation with the All Progressive Congress as a party, through the party’s former national chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun (the chairman of the governing council and pro chancellor of University of Ibadan), the Governor-elect of Ekiti state, Mr Biodun Oyebanji and his membership of alumni association of Ayedaade Grammar School, Ikire, of which Osun State deputy governor is a member.

    “It is particularly troubling that the Vice Chancellor was part of (the) Ekiti APC campaign on more than five occasions. He was specifically very close (to) the family of the Ekiti Governor-elect before and during the campaigns.

    “It would, therefore, be unfair to the mantra of free and fair election for such a figure with close affinity to the APC to be appointed State Returning Officer for the July 16 elections. Prof Adebowale is not just an appointee of (the) Oyegun-led Council, he is clearly a member of the inner circle of (the) APC going by his recent activities,” the party stated.

    The Osun PDP further accused the APC of collating Permanent Voter Card details of public servants, teachers and pensioners in the state for the purpose of vote-buying.

    The statement said, “Osun APC is plotting a more advanced vote-buying mechanism which has element of pre-voting and on-the-spot vote purchase.

    “Reports from across Osun State in the last two weeks revealed that (the) APC has been collating the PVC details of public servants, teachers and pensioners. The plot is to engage in pre-election vote-buying alongside election day vote purchase.

    “We are elated that Osun workers yearning for freedom have refused cooperation despite threats and coercion. We commend the resilience of Osun workers, teachers and pensioners who have rejected attempt to buy them and deny them right to freely elect their leaders.

    “We are, however, using this medium to call on the security and anti-corruption agencies to redouble their efforts towards taming the APC vote-buying agenda. We warn against any attempt to cover up the many evidence of vote-buying plots by the APC. Osun is not for sale to political vultures and it is high time (the) APC heeded the frank warning from our people.”

    The joint committee, therefore, demanded “the immediate arrest of the notorious APC thugs led by Asiri Eniba for the purpose of investigating their criminal activities and bringing them to justice; immediate arrest of the identified Amotekun Corps (officers) who shot and killed the innocent citizens on the said 14th June, 2022 in Sabo area, Osogbo; (investigation of) the activities of the Osun Amotekun and (determination of) their scope of operation and reasons for their meddling in the electoral process and affairs of politicians in Osun State; immediate withdrawal of the Police SPU Security details attached to the said notorious thug, Asiri Eniba; and sanction against (the) APC for its criminal plot to subvert the electoral process through elaborate vote buying agenda, among others.

  • Osun Guber 2022: Adeleke, Babayemi in reconciliation meeting

    Osun Guber 2022: Adeleke, Babayemi in reconciliation meeting

     

    Ahead of the July 16 gubernatorial election in Osun state Dotun Babayemi, the factional gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has settled his rift with Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that INEC released the names of party’s guber contestants and it picked Ademola Adeleke as PDP’s party bearer in the state.

    This didn’t sit down well with Dotun Babayemi who filed a case in court challenging the candidature of Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    In a statement made available by Olawale Rasheed on behalf of Senator Adeleke after the peace meeting held on Sunday, it was revealed that the move was in line with Adeleke’s philosophy of brotherhood and partnership for all in the interest of the Osun people.

    The meeting which was brokered by the national leadership of the party, was aimed at seeking a united front for the PDP to ensure a landslide victoryat the polls.

    Adeleke who declared that he was in support of inclusive efforts geared towards electoral victory for the party stressed that defeating the APC was the most important task before all the party leaders.

    In his words, “I support an all-inclusive effort towards electoral victory.

    “To this end, I welcome my colleagues who may be aggrieved for one reason or the other. As I always reiterated, we are not enemies but the same political family with a common political enemy. Defeating the APC is therefore the most important task before all leaders of PDP for now.

    “As our national chairman always noted, Osun is a gateway to PDP victory at 2023. Our victory in Osun is the much-needed energy for the party to win national elections. We are therefore calling on all our leaders to forget the bickering of the past and join hands to record success in July.”

    Meanwhile, Kayode Oladeji, the Media Director for the Babayemi Campaign Organisation disclosed that the meeting had nothing to do with the disagreement over the gubernatorial primary of the party.

    But when contacted for more clarification on the meeting, the Director of Media, Omooba Dotun Babayemi Campaign Organisation, Kayode Oladeji, said the meeting had nothing to do with the disagreement over the governorship primary of the party.

    Oladeji posited that the meeting was for the party to work in unison inorder to get a favourable result at the polls.

    According to him, “The committee met with the two factions over the forthcoming presidential primary.

    “There is a delegate election coming up on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday for the presidential primary. The meeting agreed on the national delegates. The two groups divided the Osun slots, instead of going for primary they have both agreed.

    He denied that his principal had stepped down, adding that the court will decide in due course who the authentic flag bearer would be.

    Despite INEC recognition of Adeleke, Dotun Bayemi still lay claim to be the authentic winner of the PDP’s ticket

    Also, Adeleke despite the INEC recognition has been facing court suits instituted to challenge his candidature.

    However, the court will give its verdict before the July 16th gubernatorial election in Osun state.

     

  • Osun Guber: Ademola Adeleke is our candidate -PDP

    Osun Guber: Ademola Adeleke is our candidate -PDP

    People’s Democratic Party in Osun state has revealed that the party has resolved the impasse between the two waring gubernatorial aspirants, saying there in no court order restricting Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    Making this known via a press release signed by Ayodeji Areola, Osun PDP Publicity Secretary in Osogbo, on Wednesday, the party stated that the legal hitches had been laid to rest.

    Areola noted that the interim order of injunction against the primary election of Osun PDP conducted by the National Working Committee which produced Senator Ademola Adeleke as the party’s candidate for the July 16th 2022 Osun gubernatorial election has automatically elapsed by operation of law.

    The statement reads, “May we bring it to your attention that an interim ex-parte order was made by Justice Aderibigbe of the Ijebu-jesha Division of Osun State High Court on 4th March, 2022, which ordered that the list of Ward Excos, purportedly conducted by Adagunodo should be used for our State Congress, yet another judge of the Osun State High Court, Onibokun J. granted an order mandating the PDP to make use of the list of delegates produced at the Congresses conducted by the NWC of our Party.

    “Our Party is law abiding and in view of the circumstance, the Party removed the Ward Excos, subject of the conflicting orders from the primary election. In another twist, the persons who purportedly instituted the action at the Ijebu-jesha Division went back to court to secure another ex-parte order of interim injunction against the candidature of Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    “However, some of the persons whose names were listed as part of the Plaintiffs in the case appeared physically in court dissociating themselves from the suit. The said persons filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal and the appeal has now been entered at the Court of Appeal, Akure Division.

    “With this event, the Court of Appeal is effectively in control of the matter. One needs not be in doubt that once a matter is before the appellate court, the trial court should hands-off and that was what happened today in court when our formidable team of lawyers stormed the Court to argue the issue out and at the end of the day, the case was adjourned indefinitely.

    “Let me inform you gentlemen of the Press that we are not unaware of the misinformation being circulated by a tiny minority within Osun PDP supported by the APC agents that the order of interim injunction made by Aderibigbe operates indefinitely. That is far from the truth as that position will be preposterous and against logic, law and reason.

    “An ex-parte order has a 7-day life span and unless expressly extended, it automatically vanishes after the 7-day period. In the case of PDP .V. ADAGUNODO in CA/AK/349/2020, the Court of Appeal has this to say on the life span of an ex-parte order…….’Interim orders have a life span and automatically expire by effluxion of time, in this case, 7 days, unless renewed by another 7 days as situation and circumstances permit’. The clear implication of the above cited rules of court is that an order made ex-parte shall automatically abate after seven days.

    “The implication of the above position is that there is no court order disturbing our candidate any longer. We, therefore, call on all the good people of Osun State to rally round Senator Ademola Adeleke who emerged as the candidate of our great party at our Special State Congress held last week by voting for him en-masse so as to deliver the good people of Osun State from the wrecks and ruins of the APC administration.”

    Furthermore, Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organization has stated that Senator Ademola Adeleke has been officially recognized as the party’s flagbearer in the July 16th guber elections in Osun State.

    Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the Director of Media and Strategy, Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organisation made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Osogbo.

    The statement said the court injunction granted by Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe of Osun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-jesa had elapsed as the court had been robbed of jurisdiction following the filing of appeal at the Akure Division of the Court of Appeal.

    The statement read, “The controversy on who flies the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) banner in the July 16 governorship poll was on Wednesday laid to rest as the order restraining the PDP and the electoral commission from recognising Senator Ademola Adeleke elapsed today with Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe refusing to renew an order recognising the claim of one Dotun Babayemi to the governorship ticket.

    “Babayemi had declined participation in the party primary organised by the National Working Committee (NWC) but had since been riding on an ex-parte order granted by the judge presiding over Ijebu-Jesa division of the Osun State High Court. Even after the NWC officially presented the certificate of returns to Senator Adeleke, Babayemi refused to recognise the party leadership.”

  • BREAKING: Another PDP candidate emerges for Osun governorship election

    BREAKING: Another PDP candidate emerges for Osun governorship election

    Another candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has emerged for the July 16 governorship election in Osun State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the PDP in Osun State held a parallel primary and produced two governorship candidates in the process.

    Earlier, Senator Adamola Adeleke had been announced as the winner of the Osun PDP governorship primary at one of the primaries held at the Osogbo City Stadium.

    That primary was supervised by the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo as Chairman of the Osun Governorship primary.

    While declaring Adeleke as the winner, Ewhrudjakpo, said that Adeleke scored 1,887 votes, while his closet rival Sanya Omirin scored four votes.

    The primary was also supervised by the party’s representatives from Abuja, as well as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    At the other primary held at the Women and Children Development Initiative Foundation (WOCDIF), Osogbo, there was no party’s representatives from Abuja and INEC representatives were absent.

    TNG reports Prince Dotun Babayemi was declared the winner at that primary.

    Meanwhile, Ewhrudjakpo has said that other aspirants, Dele Adeleke scored one vote, Fatai Akinbade, Dotun Babayemi and Akin Ogunbiyi, recorded zero.

    He said that a total of 1916 votes were recorded, while 24 votes were invalid.

    “By the power conferred on me as the Chief Returning Officer of this gubernatorial primary, we, hereby collectively declared Adeleke Ademola Jackson, as the winner of this gubernatorial primary for 2022 governorship election in Osun,” he said.

    Ewhrudjakpo urged all other aspirants to join hands with the winner to enable the party to win the July 16 governorship election in the state.

    He also urged Adeleke to be magnanimous in victory.

    Ewhrudjakpo said that there was no parallel congress in the state.

    According to him, any other congress, apart from the one I supervised will not be recognised by the national Headquarters of the party.

    “The king is here and the crown is here. This is the authentic congress and any other one conducted in any other place will not be recognised,” he said.

    In his acceptance speech, Adeleke said that there was no victor, no vanquished in the primary election.

    According to him, we are all winners. Let’s work together to rescue people of the state from the All Progressives Congress-led government.

    “By God’s grace, PDP will win July 16 Governorship election by a landslide to claim our stolen mandate. Our manifesto will be released in few days time,” he said.

    At the WOCDIF Centre, Mr Adelani Ajanaku, the Returning Officer, said that Babayemi scored 1,781 votes, while his closet rival, Adeleke scored 32 votes.

    Ajanaku said that Fatai Akinbade scored 28 votes, Ogunbiyi (23 votes) and Omirin polled 16 votes, respectively.

    He said that 1,907 votes were recorded, with 27 voided.

    In his acceptance speech, Babayemi said he was grateful to all his brothers and co-contestants, who voluntarily allowed him to fly the party’s flag.

    “Your sacrifice is appreciated. Let me assure you that I will not let you down as your representative.

    “I am indeed grateful to everyone for the confidence reposed in me, while making a solemn promise never to disappoint you.

    “Today, I promise not to be the candidate of few, but a governorship candidate of all,” he said.

  • BREAKING: Ademola Adeleke declared winner of Osun PDP gov primary

    BREAKING: Ademola Adeleke declared winner of Osun PDP gov primary

    Senator Ademola Adeleke has been declared the winner of the governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Senator Adeleke was declared winner of the PDP governorship primary on Tuesday.

    The PDP primary, held at the 10,000 capacity Oshogbo stadium, was also contested by Dotun Babayemi.

    The primary election was held amid allegations of bias and litigations which could have stalled the process.

    Senator Adeleke was also the PDP’s flagbearer in 2018 when he lost to incumbent Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress.

    The Osun State governorship election is scheduled to hold on July 16.

     

    Details shortly…

  • Only Ademola Adeleke can win Osun for PDP – Omisore

    Only Ademola Adeleke can win Osun for PDP – Omisore

    Ahead of the upcoming gubernatorial primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Bankole Omisore, a former Special Assistant (New Media) to ex-senate President, Bukola Saraki on Saturday advocated that Senator Ademola Adeleke is the best choice to clinch the party’s ticket and help defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    Omisore, took to his official Twitter, @MrbanksOmisore to warn PDP stakeholders on the dangers of disrupting the party’s process amidst reports of alleged interference in the affairs of the Osun State Chapter of PDP.

    His words, “No gubernatorial aspirant except for Sen Ademola Adeleke in Osun PDP has the popularity, war chest, name recognition, and ability to put together a solid team to wrestle power from APC/Oyetola come July. So why are folks that can’t win one LG election doing a pissing contest?

    “#Osundecides is the last major election before 2023 general elections. All hands must be on deck to win. For that to happen, egos must be set aside
    @OfficialPDPNig must use our best hand. Senator Ademola Adeleke showed he can win in 2018, no brainer he should be the candidate 2022”

    Recall a faction in the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, supported by Senator Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday, staged a peaceful protest in Osogbo over Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s alleged meddling in the affairs of the party.

    The protesters bore placards with inscriptions such as ‘Seyi Makinde please keep off affairs of Osun PDP,’ ‘Give NWC breathing space to run affairs of the party,’ among others, were led to the party-state secretariat by ex-chairman, Irewole local government, Dr. Lere Oyewumi.

    Similarly, a chieftain of PDP in Osun State, David Ayodele Asalu spoke against the campaign of calumny targeted at Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    “Those who want our Party (PDP) to fail in the upcoming election are busy spewing falsehoods against Senator Adeleke and igniting a crisis that will make it impossible for us to focus.

    “This will never benefit anyone except for the marauders who are obviously working for the APC.” Asalu said.

  • Davido’s uncle, Ademola Adeleke denies walking out of PDP’s peace meeting

    Davido’s uncle, Ademola Adeleke denies walking out of PDP’s peace meeting

    Sen. Ademola Adeleke, one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in Osun, says he didn’t walk out of peace and reconciliation meeting on Monday in Okuku.

    The meeting was hosted by a former Governor in the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

    Adele made the clarification following allegations that he stormed out of the peace meeting when he was feeling uncomfortable with the direction of the meeting.

    Recalled that the national leadership of the party recently constituted a committee to resolve all issues ahead of the July 16 governorship election in Osun.

    Adeleke said that he only left the meeting to attend to an urgent family matter.

    In a statement by his Campaign Organisation, the aspirant said that he accepted the resolutions made at the meeting.

    According to him, the meeting is fruitful with commendable resolutions and conclusions.

    “I commend our leaders for the successful outcomes of the meeting. I associate myself with the resolutions reached.

    “PDP is now one big united family in Osun State. I accepted the resolutions reached, though I left afterwards to attend to urgent family matters.

    “We urge PDP members to sustain the peace efforts and avoid spreading rumours that may derail the successful conclusion of the ongoing reconciliation moves,” Adeleke said.

    PDP has six aspirants for the Governorship election, including Alhaji Fatai Akinbade; Dr Akin Ogunbiyi; Sen. Ademola Adeleke; Mr Sanya Omirin; Mr Dele Adeleke and Mr Dotun Babayemi.

    NAN reports that INEC had fixed July 16 for the governorship election in the state.

  • We’re committed to winning, rescuing Osun from bad governance – Ademola Adeleke

    We’re committed to winning, rescuing Osun from bad governance – Ademola Adeleke

    Frontline governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun state, Senator Ademola Adeleke has restated his commitment to rescue Osun from bad governance despite campaign of calumny from certain quarters.

    Adeleke made the disclosure in response to the report of the PDP Appeal Screening Panel which again cleared him to contest the March 7th governorship primaries.

    In a statement released to newsmen by the Media & Strategy arm of Adeleke’s Campaign Organisation, the former senator was said to have expressed appreciation to the committee and the national leadership of the party for standing by truth and justice.

    The statement partly reads: “My ambition to govern Osun state is people-driven. We are not afraid to face the delegates at the primary and the people of Osun state at the general election. I urge my colleagues to take the contest like a sporting race.

    “As for me, I repeat: we are not enemies; we want to serve; our ambition should not be a do or die affair. Let the delegates decide the candidate ; let the voters elect the governor”, Senator Adeleke said.

    “We must be mindful of our actions as we belong to the same party and family. We must be getting set for a united front to defeat our common enemy (All Progressives Congress”, the guber aspirant advised.” He said.

  • Osun 2022: Do not impose Sen Adeleke on us, group cautions Saraki

    Osun 2022: Do not impose Sen Adeleke on us, group cautions Saraki

    …they’re APC spies – Fmr PDP scribe reacts

    A group, under the aegis of PDP Support Group, has warned former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, not to impose the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2018 governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on the party again.

    This was contained in a statement signed and made available to newsmen by the Coordinator of the group, Apesin-Abiodun Adegoke, urged the National Secretariat of the party to checkmate Saraki on the purported move, saying the attempt may destroy the party.

    The group alleged that Senator Saraki is riding on the relationship with the elder brother of Adeleke, Dr Deji Adeleke, to achieve the purported move ahead of the primary election of the party.

    It, however, appealed to the Iyorcha Ayu-led National Working Committee to allow the party structure already in place since 2018 to conduct the primary election.

    “The National Secretariat should stop Senator Bukola Saraki and his serialized attempts to subtly impose Senator Ademola Adeleke on the majority of Osun PDP critical stakeholders.

    “Osun PDP wants to put it on record before the NWC that under the extant laws of the party, only the elected State Chairman and Executives that came into being upon their inauguration on March 25, 2018, which tenure is guaranteed and certain for 4 years will expire on March 25, 2022, that has the constitutional powers and legal right/backing to conduct the Ward Congress and 3 Ad-Hoc delegates which they duly conducted on September 25 & 27, 2021.

    “We, therefore, advise that no other faction should be given any recognition unless we want to destroy the party completely and allow the ruling party, the APC, to strive in their failure of governance of the country.

    “No group in Osun should be allowed to host or transport any Ad-Hoc, congress, or primary election, on Committees, the national headquarters of PDP should bring neutral and credible characters that have no affiliation with either of the groups and their names should be in public.

    “Senator Saraki should face the problems of governance in PDP in Kwara and leave us alone in Osun State. He should not use his ambition and personal interest to scuttle the gradual peace process that is ongoing in Osun state”, the statement added.

    The former National Deputy Publicity Secretary, Diran Odeyemi, said the group is just hibernating on the PDP, working for the All Progressives Congress and should be disregarded.

    He said, “the author of the statement is representing a group working for APC and operating in the PDP. Who is he? What is his status in Osun PDP? The group has a client and we know them. No one should blackmail our leaders. People should disregard his claim.”

  • Osun: Gov. Oyetola opens door to PDP members as Sen. Adeleke returns, declares governorship bid

    Osun: Gov. Oyetola opens door to PDP members as Sen. Adeleke returns, declares governorship bid

    Osun State Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola has pleaded with prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to join the ruling All Progressives Congress’, APC’s bid to develop the state.

    This development, TheNewsGuru(TNG) gathered, is in reaction to the threat posed by the return of Oyetola’s biggest political rival, Ademola Adeleke, a former senator and ex-governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2018 gubernatorial poll in Osun, who has declared interest to contest the next election in the state.

    Speaking while receiving PDP decampees led by a former lawmaker, Mrs Funmilayo Olasinde-Mustapha into the APC at the Freedom Park in Osogbo on Wednesday, Oyetola said the opposition party has nothing to campaign against his administration as he has resolved all issues raised during the electioneering campaign in 2018.

    “Credible members of the PDP who want the progress of the state should join us now, our doors are still open. There is nothing you can use to campaign against us. All these issues raised in 2018 have been resolved. We pay full salary and pension promptly. We build primary health centre in each ward of the state and we building roads.

    “In fact, we commence road rehabilitation at the headquarters of the opposition in Ede. We are governing Osun with God’s wisdom not by our might. When we complete this term, by the grace of God, we will win another election come 2022”, he said.

    Hon. Funmilayo, who was also a former council chairman, led her supporters from the Ila Federal Constituency, comprising Ila, Boluwaduro and Ifedayo and other seven councils in the state, into the party.

    She noted that she left PDP because of its protracted crisis, saying a party that could not fix its challenges could certainly not fix that of the State.

    She added that Oyetola’s achievements in just three years despite the financial challenges were worthy of emulation.

    In his remark, APC caretaker Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun noted that the APC is still the party to beat in the state, saying PDP, after almost three years could not fault the administration’s policy except body shaming him, (Famodun).

    Others prominent dignitaries at the defection rally include wife of the Governor, Kafayat Oyetola of Osun, the Deputy Governor, Benedict Alabi, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, former deputy Governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senate’s spokesperson, Senator Ajibola Bashiru.

    Sources close to the governor who spoke to TNG under condition of anonymity, disclosed that the move to woo PDP members into Oyetola’s party is to counter Ademola Adeleke’s return to the state.

    “Oyetola needs to solidify his political structure now more than ever. You are aware that there is an intra-party crisis ongoing between the governor and his predecessor, Rauf Aregbesola over the control of the party in the state; more disturbing is the return of Sen. Ademola Adele who has been majorly domiciled in the United States after losing election in 2018.

    ‘Adeleke has not just returned to Osun he has also thrown his hat into the ring of the state’s governorship election come 2022. This is not a time for us to be spectators, the governor had to consolidate his political support base, and he has shown that he is capable of doing that” Says Source.

    Ademola, who is a younger brother to the first civilian governor of the state, Isiaka Adeleke, declared his intention on Tuesday, September 7, in Osogbo, the capital of the state.