Aregbesola’s Faction, Gov’s Aide Disagree As Minister’s Group Faults Primary

Rasaq Salinsile-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, on Monday rejected the result of last Saturday’s governorship primary elections.
The group backed by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, had supported a former Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti, who lost to the incumbent Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.
A statement signed by the factional Publicity Secretary Abiodun Agboola, after a stakeholders meeting of the group, stated that the primary election was fraught with fraud and manipulation.
Salinsile was quoted as saying that, “We put on record that as of the day of election, our governorship aspirant, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, was not allowed to have access to the membership register with which the exercise took place. By this, he was denied knowledge of how many members the party had as of the day of the election which is contrary to morality and the law.
“We put on record the fact that many people were disenfranchised, as APC members who trooped to the election centres with their membership slips could not find their names on the register. Contrary to the guidelines, accreditation did not take place in many election centres while result sheets were unavailable.
“The appointees of Governor Gboyega Oyetola were the appointed electoral officers and supervisors of the exercise. We note that there were over voting in some areas while the much talked about presence of Independent National Electoral Commission was far-fetched.”
He also alleged that many APC members who were not part of Oyetola’sIleri Oluwa Group were chased away from the election centres by thugs.
When contacted for reaction, Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Political Affairs, Sunday Akere, said members of the APC in the state have chosen their preferred governorship flag bearer.
“We are not surprised they rejected the result. While the primary was on, they raised many frivolous allegations that could not hold water. Osun APC members have decided their flag bearer.
“The governor has extended olive branch to all aggrieved party members. Those that rejected the result can go on appeal but they will not get any result,” Akere said.
Observer groups disagree over primary
Two observer groups that monitored the last Saturday’s primary across the state have expressed divergent opinions regarding the conduct of the election.
Giving report of his team at Osun APC secretariat, Victor Kalu, who spoke on behalf civil society organisations that monitored the poll, said the group observed early arrival of materials and officials at various wards.
He said, “The materials were adequate and evenly distributed. There were no complaints of shortage of materials as observed by us. The electoral officers used the party register in line with the guidelines. The updated party register was used in verifying members and accrediting them.
“After the accreditation, in order to guide against double registration and accreditation, immediately after you are being verified and accredited, an ink will be used to mark your finger to encourage and guide against double registration as observed by us. The voting commence in most of the wards visited by us at 12 noon just as arranged and scheduled.”