Osun West: Battle For Senatorial Ticket Hots Up

The struggle for the successor of the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke has thickened in the Osun West Senatorial District of the state, as the major political parties have been divided over who becomes the party flag bearer in the bye election.

Sequel to the death of Senator Adeleke, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed July 8, 2017 for the bye election.

Investigations revealed that the intending aspirants from both parties have been lobbying to ensure that the ticket is eventually given to one of them.

It was gathered that the PDP in the state is slowing down its race for the ticket to get a clearer picture on whether or not the family would present the late senator’s younger brother, Ademola Adeleke for the race.

A faction of the party in the state is said to have instructed all its members not to make their intention known yet until the stand of Adeleke family is known, with a view to know the direction it would go.

Nevertheless, interetsed aspirants have continued to do their underground political legwork for the race.

It was gathered that the party even sanctioned a dissenting party member who went on social media to announce his intention for betraying the collective agreement of the party.

However, the battle is said to be more intense in the APC, especially as the family had shown strong interest in pushing the Adeleke’s younger brother forward for the race under the platform of the APC against the wish of some party leaders.

It was gathered that in a bid to actualize the objectives, the loyalist of Adeleke has formed a group within the party to help push the aspiration to have Ademola complete the tenure of his elder brother.

The group, known as Adeleke Solidarity Movement (ASM), according to sources, is aimed at fighting some other group within the party to ensure that it is a contending force in the battle for the ticket.

Checks showed that the group already has members cut across all the wards in the state within the short time of its formation.

It was gathered that Dr. Deji Adeleke has vowed to sponsor the aspiration irrespective of the difficulty the family might encounter in the process and do not mind to reach compromise with some alleged dissident within the APC.

It was also learnt that the leader of the party in Iwo axis of the senatorial district is not encouraging any indigene to contest for the post of Senator as a pointer to the fact that the town is working towards the governorship ticket of the party in the 2018 governorship poll.

Though, the Secretary of the APC in the State, Rasaq Salinsile is alleged to be working towards the senatorial ticket, eminent sons and daughters of the town are not in any way in support of his ambition.

According to a source, some leaders of the APC were reported to be rooting for the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Olubunmi Etteh to fly the party flag for the race.

It was also learnt that a former Chairman, Egbedore Local Government, Bamidele Salaam has also indicated interest to contest for the seat under the platform of the PDP. He is of Soji Adagunodo faction of the party in the state.