The Secretary to Osun State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, may dump the ruling All Progressives Congress to contest the September 22, 2017 governorship election in the state on the platform of another political party.
Adeoti had announced his withdrawal from the governorship primary which produced the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, as the winner.
Speaking to News men in Osogbo on Sunday, through the Director of Communication of his campaign organisation, Mr. Kayode Agbaje, the SSG described the primary as a charade, claiming that the outcome did not represent the wish of the majority of the people of the state and the party.
He said, “The so-called primary held on Friday was a charade. The whole thing was a charade. That is not a true reflection of what the Osun people and party members want.
“The SSG is definitely going to contest but on which platform I can’t tell you now. I am not saying he will leave the APC but he will definitely contest this election. I can assure you.”
One of the aggrieved aspirants, Mr Kunle Adegoke, had said he would challenge the conduct of the primary in court.
Adegoke had said although the direct primary was in accordance with the APC Constitution and the Nigerian constitution, the election was manipulated before its commencement to favour Oyetola.
But another aspirant, who participated in the election, Mr Abiodun Layonu (SAN), has congratulated Oyetola and called on other aspirants and party members to rally round the winner to ensure the APC victory at the poll.
Layonu told News men on the telephone that he had earlier called Oyetola to congratulate him, adding that he visited him at his campaign office on Saturday to reaffirm openly what he told the winner on the telephone.
He said, “I want other aspirants and the entire people of the state to support our standard bearer so that the PDP will not go near the Government House in Osun. We will work with him and our campaign will be based on issues.”
The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Dr Najeem Salam , could not be reached for his reaction to the exercise as his telephone line was switched off. He had yet to reply the text message sent to him on the matter as of the time of filing this report.
