Osun West By-Election: Adeleke’s Brother, Salinsile Get APC Nomination Form As Hussein Emerges Anointed Candidate

A younger brother to Late Senator representing Osun West Senatorial District, Isiaka Adeleke, Dr Ademola Adeleke, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs Foluke Etteh have obtained nomination form at the rate of #3.3 million naira to contest on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in the July 8 by-election for the senatorial district.

Senator Mudashir Hussein

According to reports, the duo is set to alongside the state secretary of the party, Rasaq Salinsile, Hon Omolaoye Oluremi Akintola, an ex-officio of the party, Prince Dotun Babayemi among other party bigwigs who are interested in filling the vacuum created by the death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke on April 23 slug it out to bear the party’s flag at the polls.

There is however some level of permutation as Dr Ademola Adeleke may defect to the Peoples Democratic Party PDP if he is not given the ticket to contest under the platform of the APC.

It was reliably gathered that the development is borne out of the disposition of the PDP that he will ride on the popularity of his late brother to get sympathy votes from the electorate.

Investigations reveal that the APC is not ready to give Ademola the ticket owing to his non-political popularity in the district.

There are also insinuations that the party might have selected a consensus candidate on the orders of Governor Rauf Aregbesola who is said to have a frosty relationship with the immediate younger brother of Isiaka, Deji over issues surrounding the death of the late Senator and does not want Ede to retain the seat.

Reports have it that the former Senator representing the district who is the present Commissioner for Cabinet in the state, Senator Mudashiru Hussein has been anointed by Aregbesola to vie for the seat on the party’s platform ahead of other aspirants.

Sources told CityMirrorNews that the move championed by the Governor and other party leaders is in compensation for his undiluted loyalty since his ticket was given to Adeleke in 2015 and to balance political calculations for the 2018 governorship elections in Osun state

In the PDP otherwise, there are speculations as to who the party will finally declare as its candidate for the by-election.

As at the last count, over 10 aspirants including a former Senator from the district, Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, a political son of the deceased, Bamidele Salam among others are interested in the seat.

It is however unclear what is to unfold in the coming days as political parties struggle to adapt to the tight timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the July 8 Osun West Senatorial District By-Election.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the party in the state, Mr Kunle Oyatomi has described as mere rumour the move by the governor to impose Useni on the party.
Oyatomi said the democratic process of choosing the right candidate for the seat is ongoing, adding that the process was designed to pick the most popular candidate, and not an anointed as being speculated in some quarters.
“Where did you get your information of an anointed candidate when the process of picking a candidate through a democratic manner is ongoing?
“Such permutation does not work in our party. So, if Useni eventually emerges now, or Giwa, you will label him or her an anointed candidate, it is totally wrong “, Oyatomi said.