2023: APC Flagbearers of Oyo North, South Senatorial Districts Emerge

#ElectionBuzzNig’23

The All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearers of the Oyo South and Oyo North Senatorial districts in Oyo State have emerged at the primary elections held on Sunday.

Kolapo Kola-Daisi emerged as the flagbearer for the Oyo South Senatorial District, while the Senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District, Fatai Buhari, secured a return ticket for a third term.

According to the scores, Kola-Daisi polled 212 votes to defeat the incumbent, Kola Balogun, who scored 93 votes; a former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Sharafadeen Alli (107 votes); Adegboyega Adegoke (53 votes); Bimbo Adekanmbi (98 votes); Rotimi Adeniyi (4 votes) and Waheed Olajide (2 votes), while 6 votes were voided.

The incumbent Oyo South Senator, Kola Balogun, who is a younger brother to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, had, on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), defeated the late former governor Abiola Ajimobi to win the seat in 2019, but had recently defected to the APC, after he was denied a second term ticket by Governor Seyi Makinde.

The primary, which could not hold on Friday, as earlier planned, was rescheduled for Saturday and later Sunday, due to the inability of the aspirants and party leadership to resolve the discrepancies that arose in the delegates list.

The election was held at the Le Chatteau Event Centre, Bodija, Ibadan, amid heavy security presence, as men of the Nigeria Police Force, both in uniform and plain clothes; operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among others, were on the ground to enforce law and order.

Only accredited delegates were allowed into the election venue. Journalists were also barred from gaining access into the venue while the primary lasted till around 9:25PM on Sunday.

For the Oyo North Senatorial District, Fatai Buhari emerged winner after polling 570 votes to return to the Red Chamber for a third term.

The runner-up, Saheed Alaran, polled 6 votes, while the member representing Iseyin, Kajola, Itesiwaju and Iwajowa Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Shina Peller, had a total five votes.

The Oyo North Senatorial District primary took place at the Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme (OYSADEP) Sports Complex, Saki, Saki West Local Government Area, Oyo State.

Nnenna.O