Senatorial By-Election: Osun APC to Present Consensus Candidate as Ede Clamours for Compensation

By Olabode Abolaji

Members of the All Progressives Congress in Ede town are clamouring for the party’s ticket for the July 8 Osun West Senatorial District By-Election to fill the vacant seat precipitated by the death of the Senator, Isiaka Adeleke in April.

This is coming on the heels of the fact that the Late Senator was an Indigene of Ede which if respected would serve as compensation to the town.

Speaking on a radio interview on Wednesday in Osogbo, the state Welfare Secretary of the APC, Hon Deji Agboola, opined that since the late Adeleke was from the town, his replacement should come from Ede where the Senatorial Candidate for the district was picked in the first instance.

He said “We would be happy if the ticket is given to Ede, it will be a sign of respect and compensation to the town where our amiable Late Senator Isiaka Adeleke came from.”

On claims that the deceased’s younger brother, Dr Ademola Adeleke is joining the race as a stranger and that the family is being considered for the election, Agboola maintained that “Dr Ademola decamped together with his late elder brother in 2014. He is a card carrying member of the APC and has the right to contest.”

“The candidate may not be from the family but we want him/her to come from Ede.”

But for Hon Rasaq Adeosun, a former Organizing Secretary in the APC and the Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Political Matters who was also on the programme, the party is not considering a particular town as all the 10 local governments in the district have equal rights to present candidates.

He also stated that the party has not zoned the seat to any of the major towns in the district saying “a consensus candidate will be chosen to fly the party’s flag at the elections.”

According to him “The APC has not chosen anybody. We are waiting for the intent forms to be sent by the National Secretariat. As I am speaking to you, the elders of our party are strategically meeting to ensure we have a good consensus process.”

“As contained in our party’s constitution, we hold consensus subject to the ratification of members in a congress to be attended by INEC. But if consensus does not finish successfully, everyone will then have to slug it out on the field. The Governor cannot handpick the candidate, members and elders of the party have the highest say on that.”

As fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the election would be held on July 8, 2017 in accordance with the provisions of the constitution which gives 60 days ultimatum for replacing an elected representative if he/she dies in office during the tenure.