Osun Poll: Hunters Declare For Oyebamiji, Promise 100,000 Votes

-As Oluwo Urges Peaceful Voting

The hunters’ community in Osun State has endorsed the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the August 15 governorship election, pledging to mobilise more than 100,000 votes for him.

The endorsement was announced by the head of the hunters’ community in the state, Hammed Nureni, who said the group’s decision was informed by its dissatisfaction with the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

Nureni alleged that the present administration had failed to listen to the concerns and demands of hunters in the state, despite efforts by the group to engage the government.

He said the hunters had resolved to use their votes to effect a change of government at the August 15 poll, urging political parties not to underestimate the influence of the group.

Nureni said, “We want to assure you that by August 15, we are going to vote out the present administration. We want this to be a lesson to all political parties that you don’t underrate anyone.

“We tried to negotiate with the present administration to let them know what our problems are. We wrote to them, but they called us useless people, and that is why our people have decided to vote them out.”

According to him, the hunters’ community has about 14,000 members across the state, adding that the number could rise to more than 100,000 when their families, friends and associates are taken into consideration.

“We have up to 14,000 members, and when we add our wives, children and friends, we will deliver over 100,000 votes come August 15,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, urged residents of the state to come out en masse on election day and exercise their franchise peacefully.

The monarch charged the people to vote for candidates of their choice, stressing the importance of participating in the electoral process while maintaining peace and order.

Oba Akanbi also urged residents and supporters of the various political parties to eschew violence before, during and after the election, saying the election should not be allowed to threaten the peace and security of the state.

He called on the electorate to regard the election as an opportunity to determine the leadership they desire for the state through their votes rather than through violence or confrontation.

Responding to the endorsement, the APC governorship candidate, Oyebamiji, described it as timely, saying it demonstrated the growing support for his candidacy across different segments of the state.

Oyebamiji said the development was a source of encouragement to him, expressing confidence that he would emerge victorious at the poll without rigging or relying on external support.

He said his campaign was relying on God and the people of Osun State to secure victory at the election.

Oyebamiji said, “This is coming at the right time, and it signifies that all segments of Osun have endorsed Bola Oyebamiji to be governor of the state.

“This gladdens my heart that we will be winning this election without any rigging, without any support apart from God and the people of Osun.”