Osun 2018: PDP Gladiators Scheme to Succeed Aregbesola

It is no longer news that the State of Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is embroiled in crisis that has polarized it and set party men against one-another. The crisis is far from over and the party members who have been factionalized seem not ready to settle their scores and unite. But, despite the crisis, political gladiators in the party are seriously making move to occupy the Governor’s Office at the Bola Ige House, Osogbo. The PDP stalwarts eyeing the governor’s ticket of the party are from both faction of the PDP in the state.

Investigation revealed that the 2018 governorship ticked is responsible for the schism of the party in the state. The party had engulfed in crisis shortly after the 2014 governorship election, following a move by some stakeholders of the party to ‘restructure’ it and get rid of its ‘albatross’ which is responsible for the rejection of the PDP in the state. Currently, Osun PDP is of two factions: the Hon Soji Adagunodo who is the chairman of the party and Dr Bayo Faforiji’s led faction being allegedly sponsored by Senator Iyiola Omisore. The PDP’s predicament is whistling the chances of the party to win the 2018 governorship election.

However, the crisis has further widen the opportunity of members of the party to contest the 2018 gubernatorial election ticket, as there is not coordination. Prominent of the governorship aspirants are:

SENATOR IYIOOLA OMISORE: Omisore is a famous politician in the state of Osun.

Senator Iyiola Omisore

He is said to be responsible for the division in the PDP in the state because of his ambition to run the 2018 governorship election under the PDP, which some of the party members objected to. Omisore was the PDP’s candidate in the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial contest. Majority of the PDP members attributed the failure of the PDP in the 2014 governorship election to Omisore’s unacceptability by the electoral who consider him as too violent in nature, among other impressions and allegations. The Ife born politician is however, determined to contest the 2018 governorship election, against the wish of some of the party members. Some PDP members are insinuating that Omisore might leave the PDP should the party declined his ambition. But some other members of the party said that Omisore is actually working to secure the PDP governorship ticket for former Minister for Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiya who hails from Ode-Omu, Ayedade Local Government of the state.

BARRISTER KAYODE ODUOYE: Popularly called Superkay, Oduoye is an indigene of Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government.

Kayode Oduoye

He is a factor to reckon with in the PDP and Osun politics generally. Oduoye is a major financial of the Adagunodo’s faction of the PDP and he contributed to the demystification of Omisore in the party. He was the candidate of the PDP for the Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-Otin Federal Constituency in the 2015 general election, but he lost to the APC candidate. Oduoye is fast becoming a PDP/political leader in the State of Osun with the massive support being given to him by the people of the state, especially from the PDP fold because of his generosity and philanthropic gesture.

HONOURABLE WOLE OKE: He is a popular PDP member that cut across all the political parties in the State of Osun. Oke hails from Esa-Oke in Obokun Local Government. He is running his third term in the Federal House of Representative, representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency. He was the Chaiman, House Committee on Defence and Vice President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Oke’s governorship ambition was dated back to 2014 when he contested the ticket with Omisore but lost. The lawmaker is still forging ahead with his ambition as he is part of the contenders for the PDP governorship ticket in 2018.

Senator Kolawole Ogunwale: Popularly called Jumokol, Ogunwale is a prominent politician in the state; he won the Osun Central Senatorial election in 2003 under the PDP. Ogunwale left the PDP for the Action Congress of Nigeria in 2008 and later to the Accord Party where he contested the 2011 senatorial election and lost to the APC candidate, professor Sola Adeyeye. Ogunwale contested the PDP governorship ticket with Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola in 2007 when the later was running for second term. His campaign posters for the 2018 gubernatorial election have flood Osogbo, the state capital. Ogunwale is an indigene of Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government of the state.

AKOGUN LERE OYEWUMI: His a Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission (NPC) and a former Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Osun State chapter, when he was the chairman of Irewole Local Government. His governorship ambition is being buttressed with his campaign posters. He hails from Ikire.

ENGR. DR JIDE ADENIJI: He is a strong contender for the PDP governorship ticket. He is an indigene of Ila, the immediate past Chairman of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and a former Acting Director-General /CEO of NIMET.

SENATOR AKINLABI OLASUNKANMI: The Ode-Omu born politician contested the governorship ticket in 2014. He is a popular PDP leader in Osun State. He was a one term senator from Osun West Senatorial District between 2003 and 2007 and a former minister for Youths and Sport. His campaign posters for the 2018 governorship ticket have flooded the state.

HON ADEJARE BELLO: He is a former speaker of the House of Assembly. Adejare ran with Omisore as the deputy governorship candidate in the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election in the state. He is also interested in the 2018 governorship election with his campaign posters all around the state.