Osun Election: APGA Picks Governorship Candidate

 

OSUN ELECTION: APGA PICKS GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE

 

Gbadebo Adekunle has emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) for the July 16, 2022 governorship election.

 

APGA’s Governorship Primary was conducted at the State Party Secretariat in Osogbo on Tuesday and was monitored by the two representatives of INEC from their National Headquarters.

 

Adekunle’s candidature was ratified in the presence of Osun INEC representatives and party delegates after emerging as the sole candidate of the party’s primary election.

 

The returning officer, while announcing the result, thanked all the delegates and observers for playing according to the rules towards ensuring the peaceful primary election.

 

After announcing him the winner of the primary election, Gbadebo Adekunle promised that APGA under the state, zonal and national leadership of Pastor Olatunji Popoola, Deacon Samson Segun Olalere and Victor Oye would spring surprise against the political permutation of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the July 16 governorship poll.

 

According to him, “APGA is a true party of the progressives with masses oriented manifesto and programmes. Anambra is a case study and a good example of masses oriented democracy and good governance. APGA has controlled Anambra State since 2006 and also for a few years controlled Imo. There are lots of developments, huge infrastructures and grassroots projects to show as evidence.”

 

“We will not abandon Osun State to pretenders and looters who coined themselves progressives but our government, if elected into power will ensure that every Osun Citizen enjoys the God-given resources of the state and be thankful for His blessings,” Gbadebo Adekunle told the party’s delegates.

Osun IPAC Elects New EXCO

 

OSUN IPAC ELECTS NEW EXCO

 

 

The Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC), the umbrella body of registered Political Parties in Nigeria, Osun state chapter has re-elected Simeon Adewale Adebayo, the Osun State Chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) as Chairman of the Council for the second term, for year 2022-2023. The election was held at the Osun State Secretariat of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday, 21st day of January, 2022.

 

 

According to a statement signed by the newly re-elected Public Relations Officer of the Council who is also the state Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Popoola Olatunji Tunde said Osun IPAC on Friday returned Simeon Adewale Adebayo of APM for a 2-year tenure as Chairman.

 

 

Simeon Adewale Adebayo (APM), Adesuyi John Olufemi (ZLP), Tosin Odeyemi (NNPP),  Popoola Olatunji Tunde (APGA), Remi Ayanlade (YPP), Odesola Oluseye Titus (APP) and Bello Adebayo (LP) all retained their positions as Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary and Organizing Secretary of the Council.

 

 

However, Muritala Adegboyega of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Okandeji Abideen Tunde of the Advanced Democratic Congress (ADC) newly joined the council as Assistant Secretary and Legal Adviser respectively.

 

Speaking after the election, the newly re-elected chairman of IPAC in Osun state assured that his leadership would provide a level playing field for all members to participate actively for the general good of the Council.

 

 

IPAC Admonishes Parties against turning Osun into combat Zone

 

IPAC ADMONISHES PARTIES AGAINST TURNING OSUN INTO COMBAT ZONE

 

Ahead of the July 16 Governorship election in Osun State, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has admonished political parties in Osun state to resist any attempt by criminals to infiltrate the state and turn Osun into a combat zone.  

 

The admonition was contained in a statement issued by IPAC Osun Chairman, Mr. Wale Adebayo, on Sunday in Osogbo.

 

The statement also urged the political parties to organize their primaries in ways that the best will emerge as candidates from their numerous aspirants.

 

The Statement partly reads:  

 

“Ahead of the July 16 Governorship election in Osun State, we urged political parties to abide by the dictates of the electoral act. We also advise all concerned Stakeholders to toe the path of honour and not involve in acts that will lead to the breakdown of law and order.

 

“IPAC is aware of the serious crisis within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State. We appeal to them in the interest of our people not to turn the state into battle ground.”

 

“It is obvious that democracy can only flourish in a peaceful environment. It is our only hope of building a strong, virile, stable, prosperous and a just society.”

 

“Any threat to the democratic process is a threat to our nationhood and existence and it must be resisted by all the patriotic Osun State Citizens.”

 

IPAC under the leadership of Mr. Wale Adebayo finally appealed to political parties interested in participating in the forthcoming governorship election to conduct credible primaries in order to avert violence and bloodshed that could heat up the polity and truncate the electorate process in the State.

APM berates Osun Governor over dearth of infrastructures in the State.

 

APM BERATES OSUN GOVERNOR OVER DEARTH OF INFRASTRUCTURES IN THE STATE

 

 -Non conduct of local -government election -Insecurity

 

The Osun State chapter of the Allied People's Movement has scored Governor Gboyega Oyetola low in the provision of infrastructures and social amenities.

 

Allied People's Movement has called on the governor to urgently prioritize the issue of infrastructure. Four year into the administration of the incumbent, we can't see any tangible road construction that had been completed in the entire state. Our roads are in bad shape.

 

The party castigated the governor for embarking on the construction of a flyover at Olaiya area in Osogbo, the state capital, the flyover the APM described as white elephant project. Nearly all the roads in the entire local government are in need of urgent attention. They are in a deplorable state.

 

A statement signed by the chairman of Allied People’s Movement (APM) in the state who doubles as the IPAC chairman, Wale Adebayo said the call has become imperative following recent happenings in the state.

 

It also lampooned the governor for his failure to conduct local government elections. The local government is the closest to the grassroots, and vast majority of our people reside there.

 

' It is disheartening that since the Oyetola led government fund its way into osun state , he hasn't conducted local government elections.

 

He further said the 1999 constitution did not give room for a caretaker committee at the local government level. The sole administrators in each local government have no direct link with the people, as they are merely appendages of the governor.

 

APM noted with dismay the non constitution of statutory boards by Governor Oyetola since he assumed office. This is indeed worrisome, as the governor has turned the state into his personal business. The economy of the state is in shambles; Adebayo fumed.

 

The party also wants the governor to explain to the good people of Osun State what the government has done with the ceded Sixty Percent ownership of Citi trust Holdings Plc. (formerly Omoluabi bank) that was celebrated with funfare.

 

Allied People's Movement also implored the governor to rejig the Amotekun corps to make it functional like other south west states.

 

'They are performing relatively well in Oyo and nearby states.  Ours should not be an exception; Adebayo said.

Osun CVR Exercise: IPAC Committee Releases Forensic Report after meeting with Osun INEC REC

 

OSUN CVR EXERCISE: IPAC COMMITTEE RELEASES FORENSIC REPORT AFTER MEETING WITH OSUN INEC REC

 

 

A 3-man committee constituted to look into the spurious allegations raised by a faceless group on the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration Exercise in Osun state has released their report after meeting with the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje.

 

This was contained in a press release issued by IPAC Chairman, Mr. Wale Adebayo who is also the State Chairman of Allied Peoples Movement (APM) on Tuesday in Osogbo.

 

The Committee headed by Engr Femi Adesuyi who is also IPAC State Deputy Chairman and the Chairman of the Zenith Labour Party in the state confirmed the earlier claim of IPAC Chairman that the allegations raised by the faceless group against INEC was baseless and biased.

 

Other Members of the committee which included Pastor Popoola Olatunji of APGA (IPAC state PRO), and Alhaji Olaniyi Abass (Representative of SDP) also substantiated the Committee Chairman’s report.

 

Some of the reasons given by the INEC boss include: influx of students from the 41 tertiary institutions domiciled in Osun state participating in the registration exercise, also 80 percent of the registrants who are also digital savvy falls between the age bracket of 18 and 35 and selection of wrong/incorrect options during the registration exercise. Other reasons are also listed in the below release.

 

Osun IPAC Chairman under the leadership of Mr. Wale Adebayo urged Osun political parties and citizens to be guided by the below report and disregard any group or press statement reported to have been earlier circulated by unauthorized/faceless persons on this issue.

 

Find below the full release issued by the Chairman of IPAC, Mr. Wale Adebayo after the Committee Chairman, Engr Femi Adesuyi gave his forensic report to the House on the whole issue.

 

Sequel to my publication on the 27th of July 2021, I communicated my knowledge of some news making rounds about the increase in the total number of new voters registered in the ongoing Continuous Voters Exercise Nationwide.

 

I promised that IPAC would look into the matter and constitute a Committee to visit the INEC REC for Osun State so as to get clarity on why there is a massive hike in the number of voters in the State, as against her counterparts.

 

A 3 man Committee was constituted to this effect and they are,  IPAC State Deputy Chairman  Engr Femi Adesuyi State Chairman Zenith Labour Party, others are Pastor Popoola Olatunji  IPAC state PRO, State Chairman APGA, and Alhaji Olaniyi Abass Representative of SDP.

 

They met with the REC and the following was the outcome of their deliberations with the REC. Osun INEC REC explained to IPAC the reason Osun State has alarming figures close to 200,000 as at the time of visit.

 

1. The REC stated that the CVR are in two phases, the first phase is preregistration exercise which is done purely online without any interference from INEC.  Individuals register from their homes, and cannot be held for a number of voter registrations from a particular region or state.

 

 

2. Number of Tertiary institutions  in Osun State: He said Osun state has about 10 Universities, 8 Polytechnics, 8 College of Education, 6 Schools/Colleges of Health Sciences,  8 Innovation Colleges/Institutes and 1 Monotechnics.  Making a total of 41 Tertiary institutions. With this development, Osun recorded a high surge of youthful engagements in political matters.

 

3. He also said Majority of the registrants are youths. Further examination of the statistics shows that youth from the age bracket 18-35 covers 80 percent of the figures. And this can largely be due to the recent consensus from the Nigerian youth to get fully involved in politics, a course championed more in the South Western region of the Country.

 

3. Wrong or incorrect Registration option. He further revealed that it was discovered that most people chose the "fresh registration" option, whereas some of them are either for Transfer of Voters Card or Damaged or defaced Voters Card or Correction of Data.  Since they mostly registered as FRESH REGISTRANT, it will reflect as a new registrant even though they are now. All the above  options are available, but most still registered as new registrants.

 

HIS RESOLUTION ON THE MATTER.

 

 However, Osun INEC REC made it clear that every registration in the CVR era will be sorted into appropriate Categories. And this will be done when they appear for phase two which is physical biometric data capturing.

 

He also told the committee that Phase two of the Continuous Voters Registration, which is where applicants are expected to show up for biometric capturing. During this exercise, multiple registration will be sieved out, and also those who chose wrong options will be corrected as well.  At the end of the phase two exercise, the number of fresh registrants will be ascertained.

 

The Resident Electoral Commissioner then implored all IPAC members in the State, to educate their members, helping them choose appropriate options when filling the online registration. He Also warned that multiple registration is an electoral offence, and members of the public should desist from such acts.

 

OUR POSITION.

 

After listening to the State REC, and deliberating amongst ourselves. These were our conclusions:

 

1. That the Political parties give INEC a full benefit of doubt as touching this issue. Since it has come up with an intelligent reason for the hike in number, provided it ascertains its position of cross checking for any case of registration fraud.

 

2. That the Commission makes substantive awareness when the second phase begins, so that all corrections will be effected and the abnormalities regulated.

 

3. The commission also should ensure that the final accurate number of new registered voters be made public, via their website for all to see, after which we are sure all concerns would have been attended to.

 

4. That the Commission continue in its frequent briefing of IPAC on the progress of both the registration and other electioneering procedures as we draw closer to the Gubernatorial polls.

 

I am certain that with these measures in place, we will be able to go to the polls full of confidence that every party stands an equal chance at the polls.

 

I am always and will forever be committed to securing the interest of the people of Osun State, and I want every political stakeholder to keep supporting IPAC to enable her to achieve her lofty aims.