Mudashiru Hussain, the ruling All Progressives Congress candidate may have
lost the Osun West Senatorial bye-election to Ademola Adeleke, candidate
of the Peoples Democratic Party, according to actual results declared at
various collation centres in the state.
Unofficial results show that Mr. Adeleke, brother of the former holder of
the seat, Isiaka Adeleke, swept the two local councils in his home town
of Ede. He also won Egbedore and Ola Oluwa local councils.
Projections in other local councils also appear to show that he is
coasting home to victory, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The local councils in Osun where voting took place today( Source: NAN)
His victory, if confirmed by the Independent National Electoral
Commission, will be a big blow to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, less than two
years to the end of his tenure, amid permutations for the 2018
governorship election.
An APC stalwart told NAN it may be a disastrous night for the party.
“Though collation is on, projections are not favourable for our candidate,
even as we await results from some units,” the stalwart close to Governor
Aregbesola said.
Mr. Adeleke had wanted to run on the APC platform to replace his brother,
a member of the APC, who died on April 23. He was initially cleared for
the election by the party and his opponent, Mudashir Hussain, disqualified
because of the allegation that he failed to resign his commissionership
position.
But the National Working Committee of the party later overturned Mr.
Hussain’s disqualification and cleared him to contest in the primary
election.
Mr. Adeleke, believing he would be outsmarted in the scheduled primary,
defected to the Peoples Democratic Party led by Ali Modu Sheriff, to run
for the seat.
In the run-up to the election today, it was clear sentiments would rule
the ballots, especially as the public felt an Adeleke scion should be
compensated for the sudden death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who was
planning to run for the governorship election next year.
And then, there were what seemed to be politically instigated protests
against the government by pensioners and some workers, accusing the
Aregbesola government of owing them arrears of payments.
Signs of a possible failed bid by the APC candidate came in the result for
his polling Unit 1, Ward 3 in Ejigbo local government.
He got 152 votes, Adeleke of PDP got 148 votes, a difference of just
four votes.
Babangida advices APDA to promote peace, unity
Former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida has advised the national
leadership of the newly registered political party, Advanced Peoples
Democratic Alliance(APDA) to use the party’s platform to preach unity and
peace in the country.
Babangida gave the advice when he received APDA delegation, led by its
National Chairman, Mallam Mohhammed Shitu, who paid courtesy visit on
Saturday at his Minna residence.
A statement signed by Mr Oluwatosin Johnson, Special Adviser to Shitu, the
former president said that message of peace was important at the trying
moment of the country.
“Endeavour to use the party platform to preach peace and unity in
Nigeria. The country is in trying moment and what we need is message of
peace.
“You must promote the peace and unity of the country,’’ Babangida said.
He equally congratulated the newly registered party with a promise to be
available for advice and guidance where necessary.
It quoted Shitu speaking early that the purpose of their visit to Mina was
to brief the former head of state about the newly registered political
party and its manifestos.
Shitu said parts of APDA manifestos cardinal point was to restructure
Nigeria when it gets to power in 2019 as well give the country’s youth a
sense of belonging in the Nigeria project.
It noted that the APDA chairman used the opportunity to present the
certificate of registration of the party to the former president.(NAN)