2022: Intrigues As Oke Eyes PDP Governorship Ticket

•People Are Wishing Me To Be Their Governor – Oke

By Ismaeel Uthman

Indications emerged on Tuesday that the
​lawmaker representing Ijesa-North Federal
​Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon Wole Oke might be eyeing the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to contest the 2022 gubernatorial election in the State of Osun.

Oke, according to sources close to him, had reportedly been calling chieftains of the party to inform them of his governorship ambition amidst the crisis rocking the party.

The lawmaker, who is in his fifth-term at the House of Representatives, might have destabilised the political calculations by both Adeleke dynasty and Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi camps of the PDP.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the leadership of the PDP in Obokun/Oriade were supporting Oke’s ambition to spite the Adeleke Dynasty, which is believed to have orchestrated the suspension of the party’s Chairman, Hon Soji Adagunodo.

Adagunodo is from Obokun Local Government Area of the state.

Some members of the PDP who spoke with the medium on Wednesday said Oke, who is currently on his fifth term at the House of Representatives was due to contest the governorship election.

According to the PDP members among who are Messrs Sunday Ogundare and Ishola Fagbemi, Okestands a chance of securing the ticket of the party because ‘he has paid his dues’.

But some other members of the PDP described Oke’sambition as mere political gimmicks, saying that the lawmaker just wanted to lay foundation to negotiate his 6th term in the National Assembly.

The party members stated that Oke, being ‘a very calculative politician’ knows that if the Adeleke Dynasty eventually takes over the PDP in the state, it would be difficult for him to secure the House of Representatives ticket in 2023.

They disclosed that the lawmaker needed to position himself at advantage in arrangement to negotiate his return to the Green Chamber.

However, Oke, in a telephone interview with OSUN DEFENDER, said it is the people that are wishing him to be a governor.

When asked about his reported governorship ambition, Oke said: “My Brother that’s interesting if people are wishing me well to be their Governor”.

Asked about his assurance in securing the PDP gubernatorial ticket, the lawmaker said: “You’re putting the cart before the horse. Gubernatorial project is not a child’s play. What you are seeing are wishes of the people. 2022 is a long time.”