Osun guber: Aregbesola’s Chief of Staff is APC candidate

Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola has been declared winner of the Osun State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary, ahead of the September 22  election in the South-West state.
In the direct primary which held on Friday, he polled 127,017 votes as against House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun, who scored 21,000.
Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Nojeem Salaam, came third.
Oyetola, a participant in the June 12 struggle, has been Aregbesola’s Chief of Staff since 2010.
Announcing the results about 10:45 pm on Friday at the party secretariat in Osogbo, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege said Oyetola scored 127,017 votes.

Omo-Agege, who represented Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, the Chairman of the Election Committee, said that Mr Lasun Yusuf came second with 21,975 votes.
“Having won the majority votes, I declare Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola as the official flag bearer for the September 22 governorship election”, Omo-Agege said.
He commended all other aspirants for displaying maturity during the exercise.
Omo-Agege, who described the election as a family contest, said there was no victor and no vanquished.
The direct primary was conducted in 332 wards across the state.
The late arrival of election materials and absence of electoral officials delayed the exercise in some of the wards visited.
In Iwo, Ejigbo, Ikire and Gbongan, many party members waited for hours at their wards to be accredited for the exercise.
At ward 2, Molete in Iwo Local Government as at 1:30 pm, party members were still waiting for electoral officials.
Mr Semiu Akanji, a party member, said he had been on the queue since 8:30 am.
“We were told that the exercise will start by 8 am but to our surprise, we are still waiting for electoral officials as at 1:30 pm”, Akanji said.
Mr Adelere Oriolowo, an aspirant, described the late arrival of the election material as worrisome.
Oriolowo said preparation for the direct primary as announced by the party leadership was too short.
Another aspirant, Mr Kunle Rasheed Adegoke, also complained of non availability of election materials in his ward 3 in Olorunda Local Government, Osogbo.

At Salvation Army School, Alekuwodo, ward 5, Osogbo, voters waited vainly for the electoral register until about 4pm.
Among the 17 aspirants who contested for the party’s ticket, several withdrew at the last minute.
They were Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, who is the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Senator Babajide Omoworare, representing Osun East at the Senate and Mr Peter Babalola, Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission.(NAN)
Immediately he was declared the winner, Oyetola said he had accepted to be the party’s flag bearer.
While reading his acceptance speech to newsmen about 11:30 pm, he said he was humbled by the victory.
“With deep humility and a sense of duty, I accept your verdict that I should carry forward the torch of our party in the next elections.
“I assure you that your choice will not be wasted. You have settled for a man steady in his ways, firm in his convictions about the purpose of government, which is to promote the welfare of the people, protect their rights and provide good governance”.
Oyetola called on his co-contestants to join him in the task of winning the governorship election.
“We have only won the battle. The war lies ahead of us. Our opponents from other parties increase their arsenal to fight with us.
“But we are ready. We are tested. Like the broom sweeping away the rot, we are set and ready.
“The 60 days plus ahead will not be easy but I am confident in our ability to protect what we have”, he said.
Oyetola thanked party members for ensuring his victory, adding that his emergence as the party’s flag bearer was made possible by them.
He also thanked Aregbesola, saying he would work assiduously to ensure continuity and consolidation of his efforts.
Oyetola added that the success of the direct primaries in Osun had placed the party on a path of democratic rejuvenation and a rebirth of membership faith in the party.