Social Democratic Party (SDP) Osun state chapter, on Wednesday, July 18,
2018 held a successful Congress where an indigene of Iwo from Osun West
senatorial zone, Mr. Munirudeen Kehinde Atanda, emerged the candidate of
the party.
The primary election which took place at the party’s secretariat located
along Gbongan road, Osogbo, was held under tight security, as members of
the party across the state voted for their preferred aspirants.
Though on the ballot paper used for the primary, name of Senator Iyiola
Omisore and Otunba Yemisi Oladeji, were boldly written, but the former was
not seen in the premises where the exercise took place.
Officials of both Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and
National Orientation Agency (NOA) also witnessed the exercise.
Addressing party members after the exercise, Osun SDP chairman, Chief
Ademola Ishola, told them to disregard insinuation that another faction of
the party exists in the state, claiming that he remained the authentic
leader of SDP in Osun.
Ishola called for dedication from members, even as he urged them to reach
out to non-align people of the state and members of other political
parties, and convince them on the need to support SDP in the September 22
governorship election because of its rich manifestoes and willingness of
the party to serve.
The party’s state secretary, Elder Olufemi Awe disclosed that going by the
SDP constitution, the party’s flag bearer can emerge either through direct
or indirect primary.
“But we chose to elect our governorship candidate through indirect primary
by bringing all the delegates and the aspirants to the party secretariat”,
he stated.
Atanda, a son of prominent Iwo politician and a London based lawyer polled
271, Oladeji had 13 votes while former Deputy Governor of Osun State,
Senator Omisore polled 8 votes.
In his acceptance speech, Atanda thanked all the SDP members in the state
for supporting him just as he promised to ensure that the party’s manifesto
is followed so as to bring a new lease of life to the state indigenes.