Politics

Osun APC Primaries: Aregbesola’s loyalists allege irregularities

The loyalists of the former governor of Osun State and Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, have alleged that the Saturday governorship primary election of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state was full of irregularities.

Speaking to newsmen at his Ward 004, Isale-Oba in Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State, the factional chairman of the party, loyal to the minister, Razak Sanisile, said the primary election was “full of anomalies”.

Salinsile, who alleged that the party’s register was not made available to them, said: “Up till today, we have not seen the register of the party, which is against the rule of the game.

“At least, each of the aspirant is expected to have a copy of the register of members, but none of them has it.

“We raised it at the stakeholders’ meeting at the party secretariat.

“Many of our supporters cannot find their names on the register.

“All these anomalies will tell on the outcome of the election.

“I see it as a mere exercise, a waste of time and resources,” Salinsile stated.

Also speaking, the chairman of Ward 008, Ilesa East Local Government, Adegoke Saheed, a loyalist of Aregbesola, said the governorship primary election was full of irregularities.

Saheed alleged that the party’s register used for the primaries was different from the one used during the registration, pointing out that names of their members were missing on the register.

He said the absence of Aregbesola, whom he claimed was on an official assignment by President Muhammadu Buhari, did not allow his complaint to receive attention.

“It was in the morning we learnt that Rauf Aregbesola has gone for an official assignment given to him by President Buhari.

“That is why he was not around to monitor or participate in the process.

“If the minister has been around, they will listen to him with all my complaints. They wouldn’t have used the power of incumbency they used,” Saheed said.

Meanwhile, the supporters of the Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, have described the exercise as peaceful and impressive.

Commenting, the deputy governor of the state, Mr. Benedict Alabi, described the exercise as peaceful, while the turnout was impressive.

Alabi, at his Ward 006 in Ikire, Irewole Isokan Local Government area, said the party members were orderly, adding that there was no reported cases of violence.

The deputy governor said: “I am happy we have a peaceful, free, and fair primary.

“The fact is that there is only one candidate that is contesting the primary in Osun and that is the incumbent governor.

“We have the other faction with two aspirants, but they are not visible here.”

On his part, the State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, commended the impressive turnout as well the peaceful conduct of the primary.

Oyebamiji, who spoke at his Ward 009 in Ikire, lauded the efforts of security operatives for ensuring a peaceful atmosphere for the primary.

The commissioner said he was confident that Oyetola would emerge the winner of the primary.

However, the Chairman of the Primary Committee, who is the governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazak, commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

AbdulRazak, who spoke to newsmen while monitoring the exercise in Iragbiji, lauded the party members for their impressive turn out and peaceful conduct.

He added that peaceful conduct contradicted the expectations of many over the exercise.

TheStar