NASS Election: INEC List Douses Tension

As Osun APC, PDP Feature New Breeds•Ruling Party Returns 5 State Lawmakers

By Kehinde Ayantunji

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun appeared to have refused the serving members of the National and some State House of Assembly return tickets as party candidates in the 2019 General Elections.

Instead, APC opted for new breeds to fly the party flag at the national and state assemblies election.

There was uproar last week over rumours of the return of majority of the serving lawmakers in the state including the Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Hon Lasun Yusuf as party candidates.

In Osogbo, the state capital, during the week, the supporters of Hon Lasun Yusuf were sighted jubilating for the rumored party ticket while there was alleged serious pressure on Dr Ajibola Basiru, the Osun Central APC candidate over his alleged substitution with the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye.

According to tentative party candidate lists pasted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), out of nine national assembly members from the party, only two lawmakers secured their return tickets.

Hon Olufemi Fakeye representing, Ila/Ifedayo /Boluwaduro constituency who made the list is returning for the third term while Hon Ajibola Famurewa representing Ijesa South federal constituency secured the party ticket to proceed to the upper chamber to represent the Osun East Senatorial District.

Senator Babajide Omoworare, Hon Adeyinka Ajayi, Hon Lasun Yusuf and Hon Gafar Amere lost their bids to return to the national assembly.

Information available to OSUN DEFENDER indicated that Hon Amere from Iwo bided for the party’s Senatorial ticket for Osun West, while Senator Olusola Adeyeye, Hon Mojeed Alabi, Hon Ayo Omidiran, did not show interest by not obtaining the nomination forms.

The affected lawmakers are however not relenting as most of them have allegedly relocated to Abuja to lobby their chances pending the expiration of substitution window provided by INEC.

The situation appeared similar among the APC state lawmakers . Out of the remaining 19 APC members in the 26-member assembly, only 5 secured the party return ticket to contest the February 2019 State House of Assembly election.

It would be recalled that APC lost five of its lawmakers in the assembly to the opposition parties in the state, few weeks to the September 22 Governorship Election which narrowed down its numerical strength to 19.

Three lawmakers , Hon Debo Akanbi Kamarudeen (Ede North), Hon Tajudeen Famuyide (Ilesa West) and Hon Abdulahi Ibrahim (Iwo) defected to Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Hon Laolu Oyeniran (Odo-Otin) defected to African Democratic Congress (ADC) while Hon Clement Akani (Ila) defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to contest for Federal House of Representatives.

Out of the 19 APC lawmakers, according to a source in the assembly, it was only the Speaker, Hon Najeem Salaam that did not seek any elective office in the party, as all the other 18 members contested for national and state assemblies seats.

In all, five members of the assembly secured the ticket to return and they are, the House Leader, Hon Timothy Owoeye (Ilesa East) for the fourth term, Hon Adebisi Nurein (Ede South), Hon Bosun Oyintiloye (Obokun), Hon Babatunde Olatunji (Ife North) and Hon Babatunde Komolafe (Atakumosa East and West).

Two among the lawmakers however surprisingly secured the party ticket to contest for the federal House of Representatives. Hon Rasheed Olalekan got ticket to represent Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-Otin and Hon Oladoyin Bamisayemi secured that of Ife Federal Constituency.

Deputy Speaker, Hon Akintunde Adegboye, (Osogbo), Hon Adebayo Wasiu (Olorunda), Hon Bello Osuolale ( Boripe/ Boluwaduro) are among the lawmakers who lost their bids to return to the state assembly.

INEC had during the week displayed the lists of the party nominated candidates for the presidential, national and state assemblies’ elections.

Those who made the list for the national assembly in the state includes Dr Ajibola Basiru Osun Central (APC) and Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa (PDP); for Osun West, APC has Engineer Adelere Oriolowo, while Akogun Lere Oyewumi, represent the PDP and for Osun East, Hon Ajibola Famurewa is flying the APC flag and PDP settles for Chief Francis Fadaunsi.

APC House of Representatives Candidates