OSOGBO — After rounding off their campaigns yesterday, 15 standard-bearers are primed for tomorrow’s governorship election in Osun State.
Amid a cloud of tension caused by violence and killings that characterised the campaigns, President Bola Tinubu yesterday assured the people of the state of adequate security during and after the election, urging them to troop out en masse to exercise their franchise.
No fewer than 1.9 million of the 2,339,233 registered voters who collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across the state’s 30 local government areas, 323 wards and 3,763 polling units are expected to decide the fate of the candidates, led by Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Factors such as the influence of critical stakeholders and political leaders, popularity, performance, incumbency, federal might and track record, among others, are expected to shape the outcome of the election.
Meanwhile, fresh violence erupted in Ijesaland yesterday when suspected political thugs stormed Esa-Oke and shot two members of the APC. The victims were identified as Oladele Ayegbo and Taiwo Oluwatobi.
They, however, said the attack occurred on Wednesday as security agencies embarked on a show of force across the state in readiness for the election.
Already, 15,000 policemen, 31 commissioners of police, helicopters and drones have been deployed for the exercise.
Disturbed by the cycle of violence, Amnesty International Nigeria has vowed to make Senator Francis Fadahunsi an example in its campaign against impunity and inflammatory rhetoric by politicians, following remarks attributed to him in a viral video ahead of the poll.
Also, former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd.), has called for decisive action, including the arrest of politicians and other prominent Nigerians who make inciting statements capable of triggering violence and disrupting peace in the country.
Tinubu’s Assurance
Ahead of the poll, President Tinubu assured the people of Osun State of adequate security during and after the exercise.
Tinubu gave the assurance during the grand finale of the APC governorship campaign in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, yesterday, where the party formally presented its candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, for Saturday’s election.
Represented by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu said: “Let me assure all Osun indigenes that adequate security has been provided all over the state to ensure people come out to cast their votes for the candidate of their choice without any fear or intimidation. Feel very free to cast your votes for the candidate of your choice.”
The Candidates, Their Strengths and Weaknesses
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 poll, candidates and political parties are rounding off their campaigns and intensifying efforts to win the support of voters and emerge as the next governor of the state.
Of the 15 political parties and their candidates listed by INEC for the August 15 governorship election, the most visible candidates have presented their manifestoes, moved beyond consultations and rounded off campaigns across the local government areas.
Candidates and Their Parties
Candidates in the race include Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party; Farinloye Olanrewaju of the Action Alliance (AA); Esan Olajide of the African Action Congress (AAC); Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); Adeagbo Opawoye of the African Democratic Party (ADP); Mustapha Adeniyi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP); and Bola Oyebamiji of the APC.
Others are Adesina Aseyemi-Doro of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Adewale Adebayo of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM); Clement Adesuyi of the Action Peoples Party (APP); Masilo Adeleke of the Boot Party; Taofeek Adeleke of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Saliu Oyelami of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP); Ogunsakin Olalekan of the Young Progressives Party (YPP); and Adefemi Adesuyi of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Of the 15 candidates, three have emerged as front-runners. Governor Adeleke has hinged his re-election campaign on his “Five-Point Agenda Reloaded,” while Oyebamiji of the APC has tagged his manifesto the “Prosperity Agenda.” Salaam of the ADC, meanwhile, has unveiled a 10-point agenda.
Adeleke’s Prospects
Apart from being the incumbent governor, Adeleke enjoys considerable support among civil servants and the leadership of organised labour.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) are all backing his re-election bid and have appeared at Accord Party campaign events to solicit support for the governor.
Adeleke is also banking on his administration’s achievements in infrastructure across the three senatorial districts of the state.
