Osun West Senatorial Bye-Election: Ede Must Retain Adeleke’s Seat, Stakeholders Insist

By Abdulrofiu Agboola

Scores of stakeholders from Osun West Senatorial District, on Monday insisted that the vacant seat of the Osun West Senatorial District must be retained in Ede, the home town of late Isiaka Adeleke, whose seat became vacant following his demise on April 23, 2017.

The call was made during a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Prince Adegboyega Famodun.

Famodun, after eulogising the impressive role played by the late Senator while alive coupled by his philanthropist tendencies which made him an enigma amongst his contemporaries called for calm among party members.

He averred that despite the fact that the death of the former governor of the state was a total loss to the state and Nigeria at large, there was need for replacement in line with the dictates of the constitution, which is ninety days.

He however called for suggestions among stakeholders as a panacea to the debacle.

An APC chieftain popularly called M.B. Iroko from Ejigbo Local Government of the District, said there is precedence in the state from Osun East Senatorial District, and Irepodun Local Government, saying Ede should be compensated by retaining the seat.

Speaking in the same vein,  a party stalwart from Ayedire local government said the people of Ede deserved to be considered in the scheme of things and compensated accordingly.

Others in the likes of an aide to member Federal House of Representatives in Osun, Hon. Mojeed Alabi, Mr Mudashiru Ayanfe, a former scribe of Iwo Local government,  Alhaji Omobola, and Mr Dayo Adebiyi, a  former scribe of Olaoluwa Local Governments, supported the retention of the Senatorial seat in Ede.

Famodun, who admitted the wide acceptability of large number of the stakeholders from the Senatorial District to retain the seat to Ede, said the process must be made more transparent and democratic.

He therefore constituted a committee that comprises members from all the ten local governments made up the Senatorial District, saying the ruling party must put its house in order for it not to be outsmarted by the opposition party.

Meanwhile the 12-man committee headed by the Senatorial Leader, Alhaji Yinusa Amobi, and the State Secretary of the party, Alhaji Rasak Salinsile as the secretary was inaugurated by the state APC chairman.