Osun 2018: Parties Shop For Popular Running Mates

 

• Present Tentative Names To INEC

By David Adejuwon

As political parties gear up for the September 22, 2018 governorship election in the State of Osun and major contenders submitted the names of their candidates and running mates, the parties are aiming to change the names of their would-be Deputies with a view to helping them sway votes during the poll.

Though, the parties have submitted names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it was gathered that most of them did so as a matter of strategy and to fulfill the commission’s guidelines, but they have eyes on substituting the names with those they believe could appeal to the electorates.

The APC has declared that the deputy governorship slot has been reserved for the West, but it is still consulting as to the choice of the candidate that should be merged with Gboyega Oyetola in order to give the party a edge over other parties in the election.

According to information received from INEC, APC submitted the name of the Director-General, Ileri Oluwa Campaign organisation, Hon. Ajibola Famurewa as a tentative Deputy Governorship candidate to INEC pending the determination on its choice of candidate from the West Senatorial zone.

Some of the names that have been mentioned in the process of the search for a credible running mate include Mrs Taiwo Oluga, the incumbent Special Adviser to the Governor on Culture and Tourism from Gbongan, Mrs Folake Adegboyega, Commissioner for Youth Empowerment from Iwo and Engr. Adelere Oriolowo, one of the APC governorship aspirants, who is also from Iwo.

However, going by the precedence of the APC, the most likely candidate for the post would be a female and may not be from among the listed. As there is the possibility of other names coming up in the process of the search.

From the Action Democratic Party (ADP), report reaching the medium showed that there are two major names being considered for the slot. Although, the name with the INEC presently is Mr Owoseni Olushola Yinusa, a former Chairman of Olorunda Local Government Council Area, there is a possibility that it could still be changed.

Checks revealed that the party’s apex body has conceded the slot to Osun-Central senatorial District with its eyes on the state former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Oluomo Sunday Akere, who is from the same federal constituency with Chief Bisi Akande and the same town with the state APC chairman.

It is believed that the choice of Akere could garner votes for the party in the senatorial district in favour of the party and reduce the chance of a likely block votes from the area for the APC in the election.

A different source informed this medium that another possible candidate for the position is from Ijesaland and a chieftain of the APC, who is likely to break up with the party before the expiration of the Commission’s deadline for substitution of names.

A source within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) revealed that the party is considering zoning the slot to the Osun East or Central Senatorial districts as a means of garnering votes for the party. Hon. Albert Adeogun, from Osun East who stepped down for the candidature of Senator Ademola Adeleke has already been submitted to the commission as Adeleke’s running mate.

However, the recent reconciliatory move between the aggrieved parties in the PDP have further strengthen the argument that the Ife-born politician would be replaced as the medium learnt that part of the condition for settlement was the concession of some slot, to the Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi-led faction including the slot of the deputy governor and some other key elective positions.

It was gathered that the party cannot afford to go into the election with supporters of Ogunbiyi sitting on the fence, especially in the face of the numerous negative campaigns going on against the party’s candidate.

Findings further showed that the PDP is majorly considering zoning its slot to the central district with a view to dividing the votes from the area, especially as the party is said to be considering an alliance with another party, which leader is said to be a major stakeholder in Osun East senatorial district. A name reoccurring in the perspective is Professor Adeolu Durotoye and that of Mr Kayode Oduoye.

The SDP is also said to be shopping for a deputy governorship candidate from Osun Central to consolidate on the popularity of Senator Iyiola Omisore from the East senatorial district, believing that only such alliance could guarantee success for the party in the election.

It was learnt that the party believed in its strength in the base of its candidate and is working seriously to pick a popular politician from the Central to help deliver votes from the district to help the party’s fortune. Although, it has submitted the name of Mr Olalekan Ayanbeku as running mate to Omisore, the name could be changed before the end of the substitution time.

Whichever way, the major political parties seem to be playing a hide and seek game towards unearthing each others’ strategies, but the final choice on their deputy governorship candidates will go a long way to determine the number of votes parties would garner from different senatorial districts in the state at the poll.