Osun 2018: APC Lifts Campaign Ban, As Oyetola Pulls Crowd

Ahead of the September 22nd gubernatorial election coming up in Osun state later this year, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State has formally lifted the ban placed on political activities, making it possible for all aspirants jostling to succeed  Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on the platform of the party to commence mobilization and campaign.

It will be recalled that the leadership of the APC in the state , through the Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun had in 2017 barred aspirants contesting on the platform of the party from publicly declaring ambitions “in order not to distract the government in power”.

At a Stakeholders meeting held with governorship aspirants at the party secretariat, the State Chairman of the party, Prince  Gboyega Famodun, said that the essence of the meeting was to reel out guidelines and guiding conditions expected of the governorship aspirants during the electioneering campaign.

The party chairman admonished all aspirants on the platform of the party to avoid hate speech, promotion of rancour and anti-party sentiments.

“This is the day that everyone has been waiting for, we are by this event lifting ban on political activities, so you have the liberty henceforth to canvass for vote from members of the party towards the primaries.

“I believe whoever emerges among you as the candidate of the party will win the election come September 22 “All your activities must be carried out honourably and without rancour in a way that will not embarrass the party”, Famodun said.

The arrival of  the Chief of Staff to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola  electrified the entire arena as he was forced to walk down a distance of over 1km to the party secretariat with his admirers and fans who had  trooped out to welcome him, and led him to the waiting hands of the party leaders and elders who greeted him warmly,
political watchers in the state have penciled  Oyetola as the man to beat as he demonstrated readiness and administrative capacity ahead of other aspirants. Judging by acceptability among party stalwarts today, he out-shined other aspirants.

No fewer than twenty seven aspirants have shown interest in the governorship seat being currently occupied by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on the platform of the APC  by attending today’s parley , including the incumbent Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Dr.  Najeem Salam, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, and the Chief of Staff to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative  Hon Lasun Yusuff, Benedict Alabi, Tunde Taiwo, Dr Saka Layonu, Dayo Oyebamiji among others

Speaking on behalf of all the 27 aspirants that have shown interest, the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam, urged the party to give all aspirants level playing ground.

He assured that they would support whoever emerged as party candidate during the primary, praying that APC would win the September 22 governorship election.