Aspirant Faults Osun APC Direct Primary, Says Process Contravenes Tenets Of True Democracy

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

A gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the coming governorship election in Osun, Barrister Kunle Adegoke has faulted yesterday’s primary election, saying it was marred with a lot of irregularities.

Adegoke, one of the aspirants who contested in the primary election said the exercise was conducted in a manner that contravened the basic tenets of true democracy.

Speaking with journalists in Osogbo, the state capital, Adegoke popularly known as K-RAD, described the Osun APC primary election as a charade.

He lamented that the primary election was manipulated in favour of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, Chief of Staff to Osun state Governor and vowed to challenge the result of the primary in court.

He explained that the direct primary election was conducted without any register of members of the party. He also alleged that thugs were used to harass and coerce members of the party to vote for Oyetola and that those that resisted were beaten by the thugs.

“What we experienced in Osun on Friday is not a primary election in any way. It was a charade and it was in contravention of basic tenets of democratic system. I will not dump the party because of the issues. I will remain in the party and correct this anomaly by challenging the process in court.”

Three of the APC aspirants withdrew from the race as they expressed disappointment over the manner the primary was conducted. Other aspirants boycotted the primary.

Meanwhile, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, the Chief of Staff to Governor Rauf Aregbesola has emerged the APC flag bearer. He polled 127,017

Deputy speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Rt Hon Lasun Yussuff came second with a total vote of 21,975 just as the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Najeem Salaam clinched third position with a total vote of 17,958.