TheNewsGuru

Tag: Oyetola

  • Just In: Oyetola appeals court ruling nullifying his governorship candidacy

    Just In: Oyetola appeals court ruling nullifying his governorship candidacy

     

    Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun has appealed the Federal High Court judgement that nullified his nomination as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the July 16, 2022 governorship election in the State.

    This is as the Governor and his deputy have also filed an application before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to stay execution of the court judgment pending the final determination of the appeal.

    Justice Emeka Nwite of the FHC, Abuja, had while delivering ruling in the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, invalidated the candidacy of Oyetola and his deputy, Benedict Alabi, on the grounds that Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, who submitted their names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) violated the provisions of Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

    Oyetola and Alabi in an appeal filed by the APC through their counsels, Dr Abiodun Layonu (SAN) and Abdulfatai Oyedele, listed 19 grounds of appeal against the lower court judgment.

    According to them, the decision of the Federal High Court was against the weight of evidence and constitutes a grave miscarriage of justice. They therefore asked the Court of Appeal to set aside the ruling of the lower court and affirm their nominations as valid and lawful.

    In the appeal, the governor and his deputy argued that all the actions taken by Governor Buni in respect of their nominations were valid and legally cognizable as it was in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

    The appellants noted that the setting up of the defunct Caretaker Committee/Extra-ordinary Planning Committee (CCEPC) by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party did not violate provision of the Constitution and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.

    The APC further argued that the PDP lacked the locus to commence the legal action against Governor Oyetola as the issue of nomination of candidate was an internal affair of political parties, hence does not concern the PDP.

    “By the provision of Section 84(14) of the Electoral Act 2022, it is only an aspirant that participated in the primary election that can complain that the provision of the Electoral Act and the guidelines of the political party have not been complied with in the selection or nomination of candidate of a political party for an election.

    “The issue of nomination and sponsorship of candidates of a political party is strictly an internal affair of a political party which is not justiciable. The 1st respondent (the PDP) therefore lacks the locus standi to bring any cause of action that relates to internal affairs of the appellant (APC),” it said.

    Another ground of appeal filed by the appellant was that the suit initiated by the PDP had been caught by the Issue of Estoppel which indicates that where an issue has been decided by a competent court, the court will not allow it to be re-litigated by different parties.

    “The principal issue raised by the 1st Respondent (PDP) before the trial court is whether the 3rd and 4th Defendants (Oyetola and his deputy) were validly nominated and sponsored for the Gubernatorial Election held in Osun on the 16th of July, 2022.

    “This same issue involving the same parties have been laid to rest in the case of JEGEDE V. INEC (2021) 14 NWLR (1797) 409 and Plaintiff suit as presently constituted is a duplication, repetition and remake of what has been settled and decided by the Supreme Court in the said case.

    “The provisions of Sections 180 and 183 of the Constitution upon which the decision of the Supreme Court in JEGEDE V. INEC was based is still very extant.”

    The appellant therefore held that the suit filed by the PDP was an abuse of Court process and that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate upon it.

    The APC also argued that the suit filed by the PDP was statute-barred as the party failed to file the case within the time frame stipulated by the Constitution, hence, the court lacks the jurisdiction to adjudicate upon it.

    “The law stipulates that every pre-election matter must be filed within 14 days from the date of occurrence of the event, decision and act complained of in the suit. The period within which to file action elapsed on the 31st of March, 2022, and the PDP filed the suit on 7 April.

    “Therefore, the court lacks the jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the 1st respondent’s suit as the action was statute barred. The act complained of came into existence on or before 18th March, 2022 and not 25th March, 2022 as claimed by the 1st respondent.”

  • Osun 2022: Tribunal grants Oyetola, APC access to election’s materials

    Osun 2022: Tribunal grants Oyetola, APC access to election’s materials

    The Osun Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo, on Monday, granted permission to Gov. Gboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) permission to inspect materials used for the July 16, governorship poll.

    The tribunal also granted the plaintiffs’ request to electronically scan the voters’ register used for the election, as well as the election ballot papers.

    Justice Tertsea Kume, the chairman of the tribunal, while granting the two applications (motion exparte) by the plaintiffs, ordered that Osun governor-elect, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, be summoned through ‘substitution of service of notice’.

    Kume said that the notice of summon should be pasted on the notice board of the tribunal.

    Earlier, Chief Yomi Aliyu (SAN), the counsel to APC/Oyetola, while speaking on the two applications, said that every effort made by the court bailiff to serve Adeleke the notice of summon, failed.

    He said the bailiff went to his house at Aisu , Ede, but that the security guards turned the bailiff away after a call was made to someone in the house that directed them not collect the summon notice.

    He said that the bailiff explained (in an affidavit presented) that his security was threatened when he went to serve Adeleke the summon notice at his home.

    Aliyu prayed the tribunal to substitute the notice of service by pasting it on the notice board of the court.

    Oyetola and APC are plaintiffs in the suit challenging the victory of Adeleke at the governorship election.

    Oyetola and APC however, joining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as respondents in the suit.

  • JUST IN: Gunmen attack Gov Oyetola’s wife convoy, aides injured

    JUST IN: Gunmen attack Gov Oyetola’s wife convoy, aides injured

    The convoy of Mrs Kafayat Oyetola, wife of Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, was on Friday night attacked by gunmen, with some security personnel injured.

    The incident reportedly occurred at Owode, Ede area of Osun around 8.00pm on Friday.

    Intermittent shootings were heard in the area, as security operatives engaged hoodlums in a shootout.

    Information Officer to the office of the First Lady, Oluwatunmise Iluyomade, told The Punch that the convoy was attacked.

    She said “No life was lost in the incident. Some security personnel attached to the convoy sustained various degrees of injuries.”

    It was gathered that the convoy of Mrs Oyetola was heading to Osogbo and was around Owode market when intermittent gunshots were heard around the area.

    Sources said a truck had created obstruction on the road when the First Lady’s convoy was around the area.

    The security personnel attacked to the First Lady had gone to clear the road block when a brawl ensued, leading to a shootout.

  • Osun: We didn’t work against Oyetola’s re-election – APC faction

    Osun: We didn’t work against Oyetola’s re-election – APC faction

    A faction of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun has denied the allegation that its members voted against Gov. Gboyega Oyetola, during the July 16 governorship election in the state.

    The Chairman of the faction, Mr Rasaq Sanisile, while addressing a news conference on Wednesday in Osogbo, said that it was the mismanagement of the crisis within the party that led to the party’s electoral misfortune during the election.

    Sanisile called on the national secretariat of the party to immediately restructure Osun APC, noting that the only way to bring back the winning strength of the party is to reorganise it before the 2023 general elections.

    “We note with foreboding sense of great loss, that it was an avoidable electoral defeat if issues affecting the party, which we, as a set of discerning politicians had brought to public attention about two years ago, had been handled differently.

    “Our early warning was met with strident attempts at stifling our voice and muzzle us up if necessary.

    “We had foretold of clear degeneration and weak position of Osun APC and had offered a seven-point agenda by which the party could be turned around and re-energised for greater efficiency and result oriented.

    “Gov. Oyetola, Prince Gboyega Famodun, the APC Chairman and the entire Ilerioluwa caucus of the APC simply delivered victory to the opposition.

    “By their obvious lack of party management, understanding, crass ignorance, unabashedly protection of selfish interests, exhibition of huge ego, and so on.

    “They clearly deviated from the best practices in politicking, party administration, governance and democracy”, he said.

    Sanisile also said that members of the faction were still bonafide members of APC in the state.

    “We remain bona-fide members of Osun APC.

    “The National Secretariat has a duty not to wait any longer. The wall of Jericho has fallen and Osun APC should undergo immediate re-organisation, rebooting, re-energising for greater future performances” he said.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),  on July 17,  declared Sen. Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) as the winner of the governorship election in the state.

    Adeleke scored 403,371 votes, to defeat Gov. Oyetola, who scored 375,027 votes.

  • My victory cannot be stolen through backdoor – Osun governor-elect, Adeleke

    My victory cannot be stolen through backdoor – Osun governor-elect, Adeleke

    The Osun governor-elect, Ademola Adeleke has urged his supporters to keep calm ahead of the election petition tribunal and that his victory cannot be stolen.

    Recall that the All Progressives Congress in Osun State and the state governor, Adegboyega Oyetola had on Friday submitted a petition at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Osogbo to challenge the victory of Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    The chairman of the party, Gboyega Famodun, had on Thursday, hinted that the APC was ready to drag the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its candidate to Election Petition Tribunal.

    In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed on Saturday, Adeleke declared that the July 16th election was one of the most transparent elections in recent Nigerian history.

    Adeleke also assured that the people’s mandate freely given against overwhelming odds will be defended and validated.

    The statement revealed that the “PDP legal team is taking appropriate action on the filing. I call on my supporters at home and abroad to remain calm as this divine victory cannot be stolen through the backdoor

    “I urge the good people of Osun State who voted massively to reject bad governance to remain calm. We are doing the needful to defend their mandate. We will do all within our powers to ensure judicial validation of our victory as this is an election globally certified as a great advancement in electoral transparency and integrity.

    “We also want to reaffirm our faith in the judiciary as a bastion of hope and justice. We have unshakeable trust in God that this election petition shall end in another landmark victory for us and the resilient people of Osun state,” the statement concluded.

  • OSUN ELECTION: Oyetola asks Tribunal to annul Adeleke’s victory over forged certificates

    OSUN ELECTION: Oyetola asks Tribunal to annul Adeleke’s victory over forged certificates

    Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, has demanded that the election of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ademola Adeleke, be annulled over a forged certificate.

     

    Oyetola, in his petition to the Election Petition Tribunal in Osogbo, pointed out that the election was fraught with certain irregularities.

     

    According to him, Adeleke ought not to have been declared winner as he was not qualified to have contested the election in the first place, having submitted forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Adeleke was returned elected by the INEC, after defeating his closest challenger, Oyetola, and 13 other candidates, scoring a total of 403, 371.

     

    Oyetola got 375, 027 votes and won in 13 Local Government Areas of the state to come second in the election.

     

    A member of Oyetola’s legal team, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), in an interview, immediately after filing the petition in Osogbo said the governor has assembled 50 lawyers including 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, listing 13 grounds on which premises Adeleke should be disqualified.

     

    Other key members of the legal team included Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Chief Akin Olujumi (SAN), Prince Biodun Layonu (SAN/, Muritala Abdulrasheed (SAN).

     

    Adegoke said the election in many 749 polling units were fraught with irregularities.

     

    The legal team, he said, has established by the petition that the election in those 749 polling units across 10 Local Governments in Osun State was characterized by irregularities pertaining to overvoting.

     

    Adegoke said, “We have nothing less than 50 lawyers, including 10 SANs that we cannot list all of them, so we have listed about 20 lawyers in the petition. We have 13 reliefs.

    OSUN: Oyetola asks Election Petition Tribunal to annul Adeleke's victory over forged certificates

     

    “What we are contesting is that the election is fraught with certain irregularities by which the person declared winner ought not to have been declared and the petitioner, Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola ought to have been declared the winner on the ground that Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke was not qualified to have contested the election in the first place, having submitted a forged certificate to INEC.

     

    “The second is that the election in 749 polling units was fraught with irregularities and the election in those units ought to have been nullified. All the polling units mentioned are in 10 Local Governments, out of 30.

     

    “So, if the election in those units is nullified and the votes are canceled, then Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola will have comfortable requirements of the constitution to be declared winner of the election.”

     

    Asked when the tribunal would commence sitting, Adegoke said he does not know.

     

    In his words: “We don’t know yet but now that we have filed, it is expected that once the PDP is served, their lawyers will file their own defence then we will file a reply to their defence. That is when the tribunal will be able to give a date.

     

    “Except if either of the two parties have an application that requires urgency, only then can the Tribunal have an emergency sitting but as of now nobody knows the date”, he said.

     

    Adegoke had on July 19 noted that Oyetola may line up over 50 lawyers to contest the declaration of Adeleke as winner.

     

    “We are still reviewing documents and the legal team is actually working. In an election of this nature, the documents will be so many; so it is important to look at them critically before we take a decision and that is exactly what we are working on right now.

     

    “Dr Biodun Layonu (SAN), is the leader of the team. The legal team is not complete yet because there are so many others that will still come in.

     

    “In the meantime, the two members of the legal team we can reveal is Dr Biodun Layonu and Kunle Adegoke. Others that may come in are people, we may not know but as soon as we are ready to move, we will notify the press.

     

    “The membership can’t be determined as many lawyers are interested in joining the team. You know election petition is a special case. So, we allow as many lawyers that are interested to come in. We may run into 50 or more membership,” he asserted.

     

    The Chairman, Media Management Team of Osun PDP, Prince Diran Odeyemi, on his part, hinted that the party was not losing sleep over the petition.

     

    He explained that many of APC leaders that were saying that the result of the election should be challenged before the tribunal, lost election in their wards, saying APC should have adopted the spirit of sportsmanship regarding the result of the poll.

     

    “It is so unfortunate that APC did not believe in the spirit of sportsmanship. We would have expected them to congratulate Adeleke. Many of them, who are championing the cause of tribunal lost in their polling units and their wards.

     

    “We wonder what they want to take to the Tribunal now. We are not afraid or losing sleep, Oyetola can’t win. We will meet them at the tribunal. Regarding the allegation of a forged certificate, there is nothing like that.

     

    “They are only looking for an avenue to come back to the government through the backdoor. PDP is thorough political party that looks at all the certificates presented by the candidates,” Odeyemi opined.

  • Osun Battle: It’s a two-horse race as Oyetola faces old rival Adeleke 

    Osun Battle: It’s a two-horse race as Oyetola faces old rival Adeleke 

     

    …will Atiku or Tinubu triumph?

    … expected factors to shape outcome of guber poll

     

    …the Tinubu and Aregbesola challenge

     

    As state of Osun citizens prepare to vote in another governor on Saturday, it is going to be a straight two-horse race between two political foes who had encountered each other in an election that was declared inconclusive in 2018.

     

    TheNewsGuru com, (TNG) in this analysis will take a sharp and deep analysis of the major determinants of the guber poll that’s an acid test for two presidential flag bearers of Nigeria’s two major political parties, the APC and the PDP.

     

    Serving Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress APC and Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP are known political foes who cannot easily ignore each other.

     

    While Oyetola has the Jagaban, Asiwaju Oba the lion of Bourdilion, former Governor of Lagos State Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections as an ‘egbon’ who in the first place miraculously made it possible for him to become a governor in 2018, Senator Ademola Adeleke is from a family  arguably adjudged as one of the richest in Osun State.

     

    Apart from having a billionaire family background, his brother in-law, Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential flag-bearer in the 2023 elections, former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki who is also a brother, PDP governors, his nephew, talented music icon, Davido are solidly behind him to match the Jagaban factor vote for vote, cash for cash to change the narrative tomorrow (Saturday).

     

    DETERMINING FACTORS;

     

    There are 30 local governments and three senatorial districts in Osun State properly oiled and serviced by Oyetola. The three sitting senators of the State are of APC extraction.

     

    Definitely this is a big minus to the PDP camp of Adeleke if he has not done enough ground work to strategically put his trusted men in the senatorial districts to galvanise votes for him.

     

    This could signal a massive defeat for PDP if the three senators are on ground definitely they will mobilise who is who in their districts to rubbish PDP.

     

    THE TINUBU FACTOR:

     

    Osun State is Tinubu’s ancestral home, the candidate is his blood brother and above all Tinubu grabbed the state from PDP and enthroned his prodigy Rauf Aregbesola the current Minister of Interior as Governor.

     

    Osun is like Lagos to Tinubu, a defeat by the PDP in his ancestral home will amount to a collosal loss as same could be replicated at the national level next year.

     

    Armed with this fear factor, the Jagaban will relocate mountains to ensure Osun is delivered on Saturday. Anything short of that spells doom at the national level.

     

    The south western enclave of Nigeria is predominantly an APC affair with five serving governors at the beck and call of Tinubu, nothing short of a victory must prevail.

     

    THE ATIKU FACTOR:

     

    Atiku is related to Osun by marriage. His wife Titi is a daughter of the soil and this could help in no small way. Atiku on the other hand knows that a victory in Osun could translate to half a victory for him in 2023.

     

    But coming from abroad 72hours to the battle might not be enough to help him mobilise soldiers for Adeleke to unseat Oyetola who just last week paid Osun pensioners outstanding N1.6billion  payments. This definitely was a political strategy to make the oldies show up at the polling booths on Saturday.

     

    THE CASH FOR VOTE FACTOR:

     

    Take it or leave it, cash for vote is the weapon with which Nigerian politicians deploy to win elections in this clime.

     

    Trader money was introduced to make it look legal in Nigeria but certainly no sane Nigerian will venture into politics at any level without having a war chest to conquer the electorate.

     

    Both major parties, PDP and APC will match each other to deliver cash to garner votes on Saturday.

     

    The apex electoral body, INEC on Wednesday has declared that cash for vote does not fall within its purview and the security operatives who are very hungry may just look the other way while politicians grease the palms of voters.

     

    This is a critical determinant in the Osun guber election as cash will flow in all directions.

     

    THE INEC FACTOR:

     

    There were 1, 256, 569 PVCs produced for registered voters in Osun State ahead of the distribution exercise.

     

    By the end of the exercise on 9th March, 697, 574 cards (55.5%) were collected by verified holders, comprising 327, 388 (46.9%) males and 370, 186 (53.1%) females.

     

    The unclaimed cards were at the end of the exercise taken to respective local government office of INEC in the state for onward collection by holders. More recent records show that a total of 736, 570 cards, representing 59.6% of the total volume produced for the state, had been collected by verified holders as at 23rd April, 2014.

     

    This left a balance of 519, 999 cards as at that date.

     

    For the Continuous Voter Registration, 149, 089 new registrants were recorded in Osun – pending removal of multiple registrations and the application of INEC’s business rules for printing Permanent Voter Cards. This figure was made up of 70, 024 (47%) males and 79, 065 (53%) females.

     

    The above represents the available PVCs for the Osun guber election. INEC has a major to play. Already a coalition of NGOs on Thursday accused INEC of perfecting plans of massively rigging the election to favour APC on Saturday.

     

    INEC is yet to deny this allegation and this portends danger ahead of the election that may play a pivotal signpost on how the 2023 general elections will look like.

     

    The electoral body had promised that within 12hours the Osun guber election results will be ready.

     

    THE AREGBESOLA FACTOR:

     

    It’s a known fact that former governors are demi gods in the Nigerian political firmament.

    Yes it’s the truth.

     

    The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola cannot easily be shoved aside. If it’s true as being speculated in many quarters, it’s not going to be an easy ride for Oyetola back to government House.

     

    Aregbesola as an immediate past governor of the State of Osun most likely will play a damaging role that could unsettle the Tinubu camp in Osun.

     

    The former Minister apparently to show his anger was not at the mega rally to finally sell Oyetola to Osun citizens. This is an ominous sign ahead the election on Saturday.

     

    WILL TINUBU OR ATIKU TRIUMPH?

     

    This would have been an easy question to answer but given the fact that the APC camp is divided against itself while the PDP remains a  united front, it might not be a walk over for APC.

     

    The Tinubu camp has the incumbency factor working for it to emerge victorious while PDP will rely on its old glory that’s fast waning.

     

    Either way, the Tinubu camp looks good to overshadow the Atiku camp tomorrow (Saturday).

     

    There are 16 political parties registered to run the guber race, none except for Labour Party that made a little foray last week and little noise in the media has the followership of PDP and APC in the State.

     

    The other 14 political parties are onlookers in the Osun guber battle.

    Osun Battle: It’s a two-horse race as Oyetola faces old rival Adeleke

    …will Atiku or Tinubu triumph?

    … expected factors to shape outcome of guber poll

    …the Tinubu and Aregbesola challenge

    As state of Osun citizens prepare to vote in another governor on Saturday, it is going to be a straight two-horse race between two political foes who had encountered each other in an election that was declared inconclusive in 2018.

    TheNewsGuru com, (TNG) in this analysis will take a sharp and deep analysis of the major determinants of the guber poll that’s an acid test for two presidential flag bearers of Nigeria’s two major political parties, the APC and the PDP.

    Serving Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress APC and Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP are known political foes who cannot easily ignore each other.

    While Oyetola has the Jagaban, Asiwaju Oba the lion of Bourdilion, former Governor of Lagos State Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections as an ‘egbon’ who in the first place miraculously made it possible for him to become a governor in 2018, Senator Ademola Adeleke is from a family arguably adjudged as one of the richest in Osun State.

    Apart from having a billionaire family background, his brother in-law, Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential flag-bearer in the 2023 elections, former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki who is also a brother, PDP governors, his nephew, talented music icon, Davido are solidly behind him to match the Jagaban factor vote for vote, cash for cash to change the narrative tomorrow (Saturday).

    DETERMINING FACTORS;

    There are 30 local governments and three senatorial districts in Osun State properly oiled and serviced by Oyetola. The three sitting senators of the State are of APC extraction.

    Definitely this is a big minus to the PDP camp of Adeleke if he has not done enough ground work to strategically put his trusted men in the senatorial districts to galvanise votes for him.

    This could signal a massive defeat for PDP if the three senators are on ground definitely they will mobilise who is who in their districts to rubbish PDP.

    THE TINUBU FACTOR:

    Osun State is Tinubu’s ancestral home, the candidate is his blood brother and above all Tinubu grabbed the state from PDP and enthroned his prodigy Rauf Aregbesola the current Minister of Interior as Governor.

    Osun is like Lagos to Tinubu, a defeat by the PDP in his ancestral home will amount to a collosal loss as same could be replicated at the national level next year.

    Armed with this fear factor, the Jagaban will relocate mountains to ensure Osun is delivered on Saturday. Anything short of that spells doom at the national level.

    The south western enclave of Nigeria is predominantly an APC affair with five serving governors at the beck and call of Tinubu, nothing short of a victory must prevail.

    THE ATIKU FACTOR:

    Atiku is related to Osun by marriage. His wife Titi is a daughter of the soil and this could help in no small way. Atiku on the other hand knows that a victory in Osun could translate to half a victory for him in 2023.

    But coming from abroad 72hours to the battle might not be enough to help him mobilise soldiers for Adeleke to unseat Oyetola who just last week paid Osun pensioners outstanding N1.6billion payments. This definitely was a political strategy to make the oldies show up at the polling booths on Saturday.

    THE CASH FOR VOTE FACTOR:

    Take it or leave it, cash for vote is the weapon with which Nigerian politicians deploy to win elections in this clime.

    Trader money was introduced to make it look legal in Nigeria but certainly no sane Nigerian will venture into politics at any level without having a war chest to conquer the electorate.

    Both major parties, PDP and APC will match each other to deliver cash to garner votes on Saturday.

    The apex electoral body, INEC on Wednesday has declared that cash for vote does not fall within its purview and the security operatives who are very hungry may just look the other way while politicians grease the palms of voters.

    This is a critical determinant in the Osun guber election as cash will flow in all directions.

    THE INEC FACTOR:

    There were 1, 256, 569 PVCs produced for registered voters in Osun State ahead of the distribution exercise.

    By the end of the exercise on 9th March, 697, 574 cards (55.5%) were collected by verified holders, comprising 327, 388 (46.9%) males and 370, 186 (53.1%) females.

    The unclaimed cards were at the end of the exercise taken to respective local government office of INEC in the state for onward collection by holders. More recent records show that a total of 736, 570 cards, representing 59.6% of the total volume produced for the state, had been collected by verified holders as at 23rd April, 2014.

    This left a balance of 519, 999 cards as at that date.

    For the Continuous Voter Registration, 149, 089 new registrants were recorded in Osun – pending removal of multiple registrations and the application of INEC’s business rules for printing Permanent Voter Cards. This figure was made up of 70, 024 (47%) males and 79, 065 (53%) females.

    The above represents the available PVCs for the Osun guber election. INEC has a major to play. Already a coalition of NGOs on Thursday accused INEC of perfecting plans of massively rigging the election to favour APC on Saturday.

    INEC is yet to deny this allegation and this portends danger ahead of the election that may play a pivotal signpost on how the 2023 general elections will look like.

    The electoral body had promised that within 12hours the Osun guber election results will be ready.

    THE AREGBESOLA FACTOR:

    It’s a known fact that former governors are demi gods in the Nigerian political firmament.
    Yes it’s the truth.

    The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola cannot easily be shoved aside. If it’s true as being speculated in many quarters, it’s not going to be an easy ride for Oyetola back to government House.

    Aregbesola as an immediate past governor of the State of Osun most likely will play a damaging role that could unsettle the Tinubu camp in Osun.

    The former Minister apparently to show his anger was not at the mega rally to finally sell Oyetola to Osun citizens. This is an ominous sign ahead the election on Saturday.

    WILL TINUBU OR ATIKU TRIUMPH?

    This would have been an easy question to answer but given the fact that the APC camp is divided against itself while the PDP remains a united front, it might not be a walk over for APC.

    The Tinubu camp has the incumbency factor working for it to emerge victorious while PDP will rely on its old glory that’s fast waning.

    Either way, the Tinubu camp looks good to overshadow the Atiku camp tomorrow (Saturday).

    There are 16 political parties registered to run the guber race, none except for Labour Party that made a little foray last week and little noise in the media has the followership of PDP and APC in the State.

    The other 14 political parties are onlookers in the Osun guber battle.

  • Don’t be deceived by ‘kindergarten politicians’ – Oyetola to Osun electorate

    Don’t be deceived by ‘kindergarten politicians’ – Oyetola to Osun electorate

    Gov. Gboyega Oyetola has urged Osun electorate not to allow those he described as “kindergarten politicians” to deceive them ahead of the July 16 governorship election.

    Oyetola said this during an engagement programme with the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Odo-Otin Local Government Area (LGA) of the state on Sunday.

    The governor was represented at the event by Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, his Special Assistant on Civic Engagement.

    He urged the electorate not to be deceived by untested politicians whose aims were to destroy the gains the state had achieved in the last few years.

    According to him, the business of governance is not meant for the novice, but rather, the intelligent.

    Oyetola noted that people of the state could testify to the progress and development his administration had brought to the state in the past three years.

    The governor who said that some politicians would soon be all out with campaign of deceit urged the electorate to always remember that he had not failed them in anyway since the inception of his administration.

    “Election is fast approaching and I want to appeal to the electorate not to allow inexperienced politicians to deceive them with fake promises.

    “We have been together going to four years now and you can testify to the fact that I have not failed in any of my promises to you.

    “You know me and I know you. Let’s join hands together to win the forthcoming gubernatorial election for me and like before, you will not be disappointed,” the governor promised.

    Oyetola, who appreciated the people of the state for their support and prayers for his administration, urged them not to relent in their support for him, before, during and after the coming election.

    To the farmers, the governor said his administration would continue to support them with necessary farm inputs and implements.

    The governor, who noted his administration distributed more than 100,000 cocoa seedlings to about 1,000 farmers in the state last year, said more of such would still come.

    He noted that agrochemicals, hand-spraying tools, limes and other farm inputs, were also given to the farmers during the period.

    The governor further explained that government had last year set aside 1000 hectares of land for farming to boost food sufficiency and make the state the food basket of the South-West zone.

    He said a large part of the land located in Ife South and Ifon-Osun in Orolu LGAs, had been ploughed and that more than 200 farmers benefitted from it.

    The initiative, according to him, is to rejuvenate the agricultural sector by making it more attractive and productive to farmers, particularly the young ones.

    Oyetola said such good gestures and more would come for the farmers, if re-elected.

    In his remark, Mr Popoola Akolawole, the AFAN Chairman in the area, commended the governor for his support for farmers in the state.

    Akolawole, however, urged the government to continue supporting the farmers with the necessary farm inputs, adding that they were also ready to support him in the coming election.

  • I’ll not renege on full payment of workers’ salaries, pensions, if reelected – Oyetola

    I’ll not renege on full payment of workers’ salaries, pensions, if reelected – Oyetola

    Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, has said he would not renege on his promise of make payment of full salaries and pension to workers and retirees, if reelected.

    Oyetola said this during an engagement programme with members of The Triangular Group of Pensioners on Sunday in Osogbo.

    Represented by his Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the governor said those who were spreading false information that he would stop payment of full salaries and pension are enemies of progress, whose minds are not always with positive development.

    The governor, who said his priority is to always see the state’s workforce happy and productive, said the era of half salaries is gone in the state.

    Oyetola also assured the pensioners in the state that nothing would stop the payment of their monthly pension, adding that their positive contributions to the development of the state would never be forgotten.

    The governor, who noted that his administration had not failed in the payment of the monthly stipends to the senior citizen since inception, said he will not stop putting smiles on their faces through prompt payment of their pension.

    Oyetola also urged the state workers to continue to support his administration and shun those who always want to turn the labour force against government

    The governor, who noted that payment of salaries is one of the core responsibilities of any reasonable government, said he would continue to prioritise the welfare of the workers and the citizenry as a whole.

    “And with God’s help, that will continue for as long as I remain the governor.

    “I want to allay your fears over the insinuation that I will not continue with the regular payment of salaries and pensions, if reelected.

    “Payments of workers has been a covenant I made with God and nothing will stop me from fulfilling the promises”.

    Oyetola urged government workers in the state to ignore the falsehood being spread around by those he described as political jobbers, adding that he will never disappoint them.

    The governor, who commended the workers for supporting his administration, urged them to show more of such support during the July 16 governorship election in the state.

    He said their votes for him will ensure continued and more delivery of good governance.

    In his remarks, Mr Rotimi Adelugba, the Chairman of the group, commended the governor for his usual prompt payment of pension and gratuity to retirees in the state.

    Adelugba said since the inception of Oyetola’s administration, pensioners in the state had been collecting full payment of their stipends as and when due.

    “We need to commend the governor for this gesture. As the workers were being paid at the end of the month, pensioners are also receiving theirs immediately,” he said.

    “The governor must be commended because on a monthly basis he approves N508 million for the payment of pension and N200 million for the payment of gratuity.

    “Out of the N200 million for the payment of the gratuity, N150 million goes for the pensioners under the contributory pension scheme, while N50 million is for pensioners under the old system,” he said.

  • APC Primaries: Oyetola extends olive branch to Adeoti, Lasun

    APC Primaries: Oyetola extends olive branch to Adeoti, Lasun

    Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, has appealed to those who lost at the state All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries, to join hands with him towards the victory of the party in the July 16 poll.

    Oyetola made the call on Sunday, after emerging the bearer of the APC at the end of the party’s direct primary election in Osogbo.

    Oyetola was declared winner after polling a total of 222,169 votes to defeat other aspirants in the race.

    The aspirants included former Secretary to State Government, Alhaji Mushood Adeoti, who polled 12, 921 votes and former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Lasun Yusuf who got 460 votes.

    The governor said he was extending a hand of fellowship to the two aspirants, asking them to join him to prepare for the July governorship election.

    “The outcome of this primary election is victory for our party and members who have spoken loudly through their votes.

    “I thank you all our party members, for your constant support, especially for speaking eloquently with your massive votes in favour of our administration’s restoration and consolidation agenda.

    “With this primary election now concluded, I invite us all to rededicate ourselves and the party to delivering an overwhelming victory at the gubernatorial polls, holding on Saturday, July 16.

    “For me, we are all winners. I, therefore, extend my hand of fellowship to the other two aspirants to join me, as we prepare for the July election. We are all brothers. Let’s join hands to build the Osun of our dream,” he said.

    Oyetola added: “Let us close ranks and eschew bitterness in whatever form. Therefore, may I use this opportunity to also ask all our aggrieved members, to have a rethink and join hands with us to further strengthen our party and deliver outstanding results at the gubernatorial poll.”

    He commended Gov. Abdulrahaman Abdulrasaq of Kwara, who was also the Chairman of the state Governorship Primary Election Committee and members of his team, for conducting a hitch-free primaries.

    “As we commence the electioneering campaigns, I urge all contestants across party lines, to perform this exercise with utmost decency and not jeopardise the peace and tranquillity our state is noted for,” the governor said.