Mixed feelings as Osun residents elect Aregbesola's successor today

macfranc007 September 22, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Wale Akinola|Sola Adetona

- Residents of Osun will today, Saturday, September 22, elect next governor for the state

- 48 parties would participate in the election according to INEC

- The residents said they would not allow themselves to be used as tools of rigging for election

The people of Osun state will today, Saturday, September 22, go to the poll to elect who will govern them for the next four years.

There had been intense political campaigns and politicking among the major political parties ahead of today's election.

NAIJ.com reports that though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said that 48 parties would take part in the election, the contest would be among five parties, namely - All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Action Democratic Congress (ADC) and Action Democratic Party (ADP).

A survey by NAIJ.com on Friday, September 21, in major towns of the state revealed that the election would be won and lost based on many factors such as party's influence, candidates' level of popularity, zonal system and party's previous achievements.

In Okini area of Osogbo, many voters expressed their readiness to vote for Senator Iyiola Omisore, the candidate of SDP based on his political experience as they said that he is the best man to succeed the outgoing governor Rauf Aregbesola on October 26.

A resident of the area, Chief Abiola Oyeleke, said that Omisore would defeat other candidates to win the election, adding that the former deputy governor of the state has what it takes to take the state to the next level.

"We are ready to vote enmasse for Senator Omisore tomorrow, Saturday, September 22, because he is the right man for the job", another resident said.

A resident of Ikire, the headquarter of Irewole local government, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that the candidate of PDP, Ademola Adeleke, would likely win the town despite the fact that the deputy governorship candidate of APC, Gboyega Alabi, is from the same town.

He said that there are two strong members of the PDP from the town and that it would take only miracle for Alabi to deliver the town for APC.

He further said that the former chairman of the local government and a respected politician in the area, Akogun Lere Oyewunmi, is the director general of Adeleke campaign group and a former chieftain of APC, Elder Peter Babalola, who recently defected to PDP is also from the place.

But in his reaction, another resident, Bolaji Adewale, said that he believed APC would win Ikire because people are ready to vote for their own son irrespective of the influence the PDP might have on the people in town.

In Ede, where PDP candidate, Ademola Adeleke, comes from, most residents said that no other party would win except the PDP because of Adeleke's factor.

But others noted that it might not be easy for the party as claimed because of the former speaker of Osun state House of Assembly and PDP deputy governorship candidate of PDP in 2014 defected to APC two weeks ago. He noted that Adejare said that the party lacks internal democracy, adding that he would do everything possible to win the town for his new party.

"Former speaker Adejare Bello is a big factor in Ede and nobody can deny that fact. He is a thoroughbred politician of a note. He will play a spoiler role in Ede and that is a minus for Adeleke", he said.

NAIJ.com reports that residents of Ode-Omu in Ayedaade local government where Omisore's right hand man, Alhaji Adesiyan, comes from, said that the town would vote for APC at the poll.

It is believed that Adesiyan, who was the former minister of police affairs, should be able to win the town to boost Omisore's chances of winning the election.

But a resident, Akinlade Ibrahim, said that nothing would stop the ruling APC from winning the election on Saturday, September 22.

Some residents in Boripe local government, where APC candidate, Gboyega Oyetola hails, said that the race is between Oyetola and Adeleke.

Adeleke Abdul-Waasiy, a resident of Iragbiji, Oyetola's home town, noted that APC would win convincingly in the town. But a resident of Ikirun, Ifelodun local government, said that PDP would win including Oyetola's home town.

Speaking with NAIJ.com, some cab drivers in Old garage area of Osogbo, said they were happy because people were travelling en masse to major towns like Ila-Ora, Ikirun, and Iragbiji to vote for their respective candidates.

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Asked why they recorded high turn out of passenger just like it usually happens during festive period, a cab driver, simply identified as 'Omoga', said that the turned out may not be unconnected with the fact that APC governorship candidate is from the area.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had previously ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said vote buyers and their customers risk being arrested and prosecuted.

Osun Election 2018: PDP Has No Candidate for Saturday’s Osun Election - Omisore Reveals - on NAIJ.com TV