Osun Guber Election Re-run: How Omisore Becomes APC, PDP Bride

…lists condition for support

Less than Seventy two hours to the Osun governorship election, the country home of Chief Iyiola Omisore, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ile-Ife has become a Mecca as he has become a bride to politicians in the two leading parties, All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Senator Iyiola Omisore

The chieftains of the two political parties apparently looking for a soft landing for their parties in the Thursday rerun election to conclude the governorship election in Osun State have been paying visits to Senator Omisore to woo him to support their respective candidate in the election.

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki on Monday met with Senator Iyiola Omisore at his country home in Ile-Ife.

Omisore disclosed that delegation of the APC which is the ruling party had earlier visited him after the announcement of the rerun election.

Omisore who was the candidate of SDP in the election came third in the result of the election announced by INEC on Sunday out of the forty eight political parties that contested the election.

Speaking with newsmen after a closed door meeting with Omisore, Dr. Saraki said he came to solicit for Omisore’s support over the rerun adding that they agreed in principle with Omisore’s conditions to get his support for the exercise.

According to him, Omisore was a major stakeholder in Osun and therefore central to peace, growth, development and good government in Osun.

His words: “We had a fruitful discussion with Senator Omisore. He used to be with us. And we believe he is helping us now. I am optimistic of a good outing for PDP.

“After meeting with hm, I am more optimistic now that with his support, PDP will win. We are confident of a good outing. I am more confident now.

“I was hard on INEC because it declared Osun poll inconclusive after doing a good job. The issue of vote buying was at the front burner but that was reduced to the bearers minimum as against what we witnessed during Ekiti poll.

“At the end of the day, the poll was again declared inclusive. That like take away all commendations that should have gone the way of INEC.”

Saraki however expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party will win the election and Senator Ademola Adeleke declared winner of the election.

He said Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to get his full commendations because Osun poll was declared inconlusive.

Speaking, Omisore said he would be willing to support any political party that would implement his agenda of good governance, payment of full salaries to workers and prompt payment of pensioners allowances.

Omisore said: “I have given my programmes to both APC and PDP. My programme is like this; payment of salaries and pensions.Good governance is what is important to me.

“Anyone between the two that will do that will get my support. I am passionate about Osun and my interest is the welfare of the people of this state. I have told those sent to me. At the appropriate time, we will tell you where we are going.”

Osun poll was declared inconclusive after elections were cancelled in 7 units in Ifon Orolu local government, Osogbo, Ife North and Ife South local government areas.

Omisore’s father, Oba David Omisore, is the ruler of Garage Olode, a town in Ife South, where election in two units were cancelled.

Also, Omisore came third in the governorship poll, after garnering a total of 128, 049 votes and his support may determine the fate of the fate of PDP candidate, who is leading and the APC candidate, who is second in the poll.