A group led by the spokesperson of Nigeria’s Senate, Ajibola Bashir, has obtained the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination forms for the incumbent governor of Osun, Gboyega Oyetola.
In an interview with journalists after obtaining the forms at the Party’s National Secretariat, Senator Bashir said the governor at the maiden meeting of the traditional council in Osun state had publicly declared his interest to seek re-election.
He added that they believe that Governor Oyetola has performed “excellently” to deserve a second term. When asked whether the current battle will not threaten Oyetola’s re-election bid with the Minister of Interior and former governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola, the Senate spokesperson said the election was more extensive than individuals. Recall that Governor Oyetola and Aregbesola have been at loggerheads over the control of the APC in Osun state.
According to Senator Bashir, “I will not reduce the issue of our party to issue of personality. Political parties are institutions of democracy, and they are run based on the structure of the political parties and the leaders of the party.
“Today, in the State of Osun, the highest hierarchy of our party is constituted in what is called Egbe Igbimo agba, which no miniature person heads than the founding chairman of our party Baba Bisi Akande, and we also have former governors, deputy governors, members of national assembly, current and seasoned politicians in that club.
“We also have federal constituency structures in all the nine federal constituencies. We also have ward executives, local executives and unit executives. So, it’s about structures that win elections and not personality. So we believe that the existing structures of our party are such that the party that is really in existence today is the APC, and I will give you statistics.
“Beyond the 2018 election, the first election and the only election that has been conducted under the leadership of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola is the 2019 general elections, and I challenge you to go to the INEC website to download the results. There are nine federal constituencies in the State of Osun. Our party APC had six out of that nine seats, and of course, if you do the percentage, that is about 65%, that’s B plus.
“Then in the Senatorial election in the three Senatorial districts, our party got two out of the three Senatorial districts I think that’s also about 70% and of course in the house of assembly, of the 26 seats we have in Osun, our party had 23 out of the 26 and all of them are still members of our political party.
“So when you have a political party that has in its fold two senators, six houses of Representatives members and 23 elected State legislators, I don’t think it is beyond any doubt to say the party to beat in the State of Osun is the APC and the leadership of the party has provided structure to ensure that we deliver massively. And we also know that in the presidential election in 2019, Osun was one of the States that delivered for our leader President Muhammadu Buhari.
“So no doubt, the State of our party is strong, vibrant, cohesive and articulate to deliver for the party in the 2022 election,” he said.
The group included some politicians, appointees of the governor and supporters from Osun state.
Editor/Suzan O.
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