• INEC ballot papers

INEC has reassured political parties, civil society organisations, media and the good people of Osun State of its total readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible, transparent, and inclusive election.

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna , gave the assurance , yesterday, disclosing that the ballot papers and result sheets have arrived in Osogbo, the state capital.

They were sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office, from where they will be distributed to other parts of the state.

The ballot papers and result sheets were reprinted following a court judgment which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to put the name of the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on the ballot.

With this addition, 15 candidates are now in the race.

The election will hold in 332 wards spread across 30 local government areas, “ he said.

The national leadership of Accord has dismissed its expelled former 2023 presidential candidate, Chris Imumolen’s support for the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiyi for the Osun State governorship election, stating that Imumolen has no electoral value to influence any election in the country.

In a press statement signed by Chief Maxwell Mgbudem esq National Chairman, Accord, the party described that Imumolen is a political hireling and hustler seeking stomach infrastructure and has no political structure that will favour his preferred candidate in the election.

That Imumolen attended the APC rally in Osogbo where he backed its candidate is a glaring testament that he is not a member of Accord and does not represent the party in any capacity.

The purported appellation, “factional chairman” of Accord is not only mischievous, it is a delusion of the grandeur that exists in his fertile imagination as the party has no faction.

Osun State is an Accord stronghold, the people are in one accord with Governor Ademola Adeleke and will overwhelmingly vote for the party on Saturday, August 15.

It is obvious that Accord will secure a landslide victory in this election that will further consolidate the party in the state and improve the delivery of democracy dividends to the people.

It is the fear of its worst electoral defeat that APC resorted to violence, harassment, intimidation and the use of federal Institutions particularly, the police and the EFCC to suppress the Government and people of Osun State including Accord members hoping to compromise the election in favour of the APC.

The good people of Osun remain resolute, firm and steadfast in their support for Accord and their governor.

The party urges INEC to be neutral and conduct a credible election, and also urges security agencies to be impartial and professional in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities.

Accord calls on the international community particularly, the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Africa Union, ECOWAS, United States of America and United Kingdom to strictly monitor the election and sanction anyone found wanting.

The party is set and ready for the governorship election and expresses confidence to win banking on Governor Adeleke’s achievements and transformational leadership in the state.

Let the Osun State governorship election set a new national standard in the conduct of elections in Nigeria.

Photo: A collage of Adeleke, Oyebamiji, and Salaam

Tomorrow  – Saturday, August 15, is the D-Day for the Osun governorship election.

Of the 15 political parties and their candidates listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for the  governorship polls, the much talked about contenders are the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke of the Accord party.

Others are Najeem Salaam (African Democratic Congress, ADC), and Bola Oyebamiji (All Progressives Congress, APC).

The candidates will battle for the votes of 2,339, 233 residents registered to participate in the election.

Here’s a short background of each of the candidates:

ADELEKE (ACCORD)

Apart from being the incumbent governor, he also enjoyed acceptability among the majority of civil servants and the leadership of the labour unions; the NLC, TUC and JNC are all on his side and appearing in the Accord party campaign soliciting support for the governor.

The Governor is also banking on his achievements in the area of infrastructure across the three senatorial districts, which has been driving his campaigns so far.

BOLAJI OYEBAMIJI (APC)

The APC candidate is believed to enjoy the support of President Bola Tinubu and the APC governors, who will stop at nothing to ensure victory for the party at the polls.

The APC candidate’s personality and philanthropy has endeared him to the people.

Apart from being endorsed by the President, Oyebamiji’s election bid receive a major boost with the defection of all the federal lawmakers from Osun-East senatorial district, who are also major political gladiators from the towns.

They include Senator Francis Fadahunsi, Mr Wole Oke (Ijesa-North federal constituency), Sanya Omirin (Ijesa-South federal constituency) and Mr Taofeek Ajilesoro (Ife federal constituency).

NAJEEM SALAAM (ADC)

Since unveiling his 10 point agenda, anchored on workers’ welfare and sustainable electricity for the industrialisation of the state, Salaam, a former Speaker of the House of Assembly, has continuously been engaging with the electorate on the need to abandon the traditional political parties.

Salaam’s advantage is Aregbesola’s grassroots appeal when he was governor in the state and the candidate’s humble nature that attracts him to a section of supporters across the state, especially from Osun-West Senatorial District where he hails from .

Many grassroots politicians, who left the APC along with Aregbesola, are with Salaam, which is helping to bolster his governorship ambition.