Oyetola upbeat on victory in Osun APC governorship primary

As results begin to trickle in from Saturday’s primary election conducted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the ticket to represent the party ahead of the forthcoming Osun Governorship poll on July 16, this year, the incumbent, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, has expressed optimism at winning the exercise.

The Osun Governorship direct primary election held simultaneously in all 332 wards of the state.

Governor Oyetola who earlier, Saturday, cast his vote at Ward 1, Boripe Local Government Area, Iragbiji, has expressed confidence that he would emerge victorious in the ongoing primary election of the party.

From early results, Oyetola defeated his opponents, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti and Lasun Yusuf at his polling unit.

The governor secured all the votes cast in the election, 1612, although the total number of accredited voters was 2053.

The governor is battling the camp of his predecessor and current Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for control of the party in Osun State, appears to be in the lead with early results suggesting he may win the ticket to contest for a second term in office.

While casting his vote, Oyetola applauded the members of the party for turning out in large number said, “losing was not an option for a man commissioned by God for an assignment.”

The Governor noted that news of violence making the rounds were mere speculations.

This followed rumours in the build-up to the State’s primary election of the All Progressive Congress of possible onslaught by the members of the splinter group within the Party called TOP.

Aregbesola’s group, had produced two aspirants Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, who was a former Secretary to the State Government, and Hon. Lasun Yusuff, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. However, Adeoti was preferred by Aregbesola.

Oyetola however appealed to citizens across the State to maintain peace and decorum, adding that elections should not be a battle.

“By the grace of God I will emerge victorious. To us, losing is not an option for a man commissioned by God for an assignment.

 “I just want to appeal to all our people across the State to maintain peace. Election process should not be a battlefield or a do-or-die affair. Let everyone exercise his/her tight to choose in determining who represents them at the party level and ultimately at the general elections.

 “So far so good, I think this process has gone well contrary to the speculation of violence. We have been in contact with a number of places and we have received positive signals of peace.

 “Really, I don’t see why choosing a candidate to represent the party should be a thing of violence”, he said.

There are currently two factions of the APC in Osun. One faction is loyal to the Governor Gboyega Oyetola, who is seeking re-election while the other faction is the backing of the Minister of interior and former governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola.

Chairman of the Committee and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, earlier Friday, assured that his committee was raised to ensure fairness and equity to all contestants, and that it would do nothing short of that.”

Governor Oyetola, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yussuff and a former Secretary to Osun State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti are all vying for the party’s governorship ticket.