By Shina Abubakar, OSOGBO
With less than two days to the governorship election in Osun State and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, confirming that 2,339, 233 residents registered to participate in the polls, candidates and political parties are rounding up campaign and intensifying moves to warm themselves into the hearts of the people with a view to winning their support to emerge as the next Governor of the state.
Out of the 15 candidates, only three have presented manifestoes and commenced campaigns. Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, APC, is one of them.
Strengths
The APC candidate is believed to enjoy the support of President Bola Tinubu and the APC governors, who will stop at nothing to ensure victory for the party at the polls.
The APC candidate’s personality and philanthropy has endeared him to the people.
Apart from being endorsed by the President, Oyebamiji’s election bid receive a major boost with the defection of all the federal lawmakers from Osun-East senatorial district, who are also major political gladiators from the towns.
They include Senator Francis Fadahunsi, Mr Wole Oke (Ijesa-North federal constituency), Sanya Omirin (Ijesa-South federal constituency) and Mr Taofeek Ajilesoro (Ife federal constituency).
The defectors are seen as turning the tide in favour of the APC candidate in their respective strongholds.
Their action, according to party leaders, may tilt the pendulum in favour of Oyebamiji from the senatorial district.
Besides, some of Omisore’s point men in Ife have also pledged loyalty to the party and its candidate.
While Adeleke got massive votes from Osun-West in 2022, the candidature of Oyebamiji may change the narrative, with the total registered votes from Ikire federal constituency amounting to 222,786 votes for Irewole, Ayedaade and Isokan local governments, likely reducing the influence of the governor in the district.
While Governor Adeleke seems to enjoy endorsement among royal fathers from Ife, Oyebamiji’s major endorsement programme has been coming from markets and traders.
In most of his engagements, the APC candidate has always taken advantage of the allegation of nepotism against the incumbent to sell himself as a man for all.
Although the APC has not started its campaign, the party has completed the inauguration of 30 vote canvassers for each of the 3,763 polling units across the state.
Oyebamiji is likely to win in Osun-East due to the presence of Senator Francis Fadahunsi, a major political gladiator from Ijesaland, Hon Sanya Omirin and Hon Wole Oke from Ijesa-South and North respectively.
Although, Senator Iyiola Omisore is still a member of the APC, some of his loyalists are still within the party. Also Engr. Kayode Adereti, the deputy governorship candidate of he party, is influencial having contested against incumbent member of the House of Representatives in 2022 – Taofeek Ajilesoro, who is now also in the APC.
In Osun-Central, whoever wins in Osogbo and Olorunda local government is likely to win the senatorial district. Oyebamiji has the likes of the party’s national secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru who is from the core Osogbo supported by Executive Director, Marine and Blue Economy, Olalekan Badmus and many elites in the Olorunda and Osogbo, supporting the APC.
Challenges
Oyebamiji’s major issue is the policy decision of the Oyetola administration under whom he served.
The modulated salary under Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the inability of Governor Gboyega Oyetola to pay part of it has been a major issue confronting his candidature.
His critics, especially from the Accord party, believe he is responsible for the modulated salary under Aregbesola’s administration and should not be trusted with the governorship seat.
Vanguard News
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