•For State & Federal Assemblies
Last week was very interesting in Oyo State politics, especially within the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Aspirants across the state battled one another for the party’s tickets to contest the 2023 elections in their respective constituencies and local governments.
The primary elections led to the emergence of candidates who will represent PDP in the three senatorial zones, fourteen Federal and 33 State assembly seats. The incumbent governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde also clinched his second term ticket in PDP (he polled 1,040 votes to defeat Gbolarumi, his only rival in the race, who scored only two votes).
While the process could be said to be successful, there were pockets of complaints here and there, however. In fact, some aggrieved aspirants have vowed to challenge outcome of the process in court.
But at the end of it all, Joseph Olasunkami Tegbe, Chief Luqman Oyebisi Ilaka and Akinwale Akinwole have emerged as PDP’s candidates for Oyo South, Oyo Central and Oyo North senatorial districts respectively.
Tegbe, at the primary election presided over by the returning officer, Bolanle Oladeji and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as well as PDP officials, was declared winner with 297 votes, as a sole contestant in the race.
The former Chief of Staff to Governor Seyi Makinde, Bisi Ilana defeated Wale Ajani and Wale Adegoke to emerge as the candidate of the PDP for his zone. The Oyo-born politician, according to the returning officer, Olugbega Adedamola Adebayo, got 322 votes, while his closest rival Wale Adegoke polled 36 votes. Also, Akinwale Akinwole, popularly known as ‘Wolekanle’, was declared the winner for Oyo North Senatorial District in the primaries. The Ogbomoso-born entrepreneur was declared the winner by the electoral officer, Babatude Akeem at the election held in Iseyin. He polled 414 votes out of the 415 votes.
For the fourteen House of Reps tickets, Busari Olayemi won the Ona-Ara/Egbeda PDP primary election. In Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Lanre Sarumi defeated Dada Awoleye, a two-term member of the House of Reps, former Oyo Assembly member, Olusegun Olaleye aka ‘Radical Brother’ and others to clinch the ticket. While Abideen Adeaga defeated Makinde’s formed SSA, Kunle Yusuf to clinch Lagelu Akinyele Federal Constituency ticket.
Other aspirants who won the House of Representatives tickets include Majeed Mogbojunbola (Oluyole Federal Constituency), Hussaini Yusuf Ijabah (Irepo, Oorelope, Olorunsogo Federal Constituency), Dr. Lukman Adisa Salami (Saki East/Saki West/Atisbo Federal Constituency), Abass Adigun Agboworin (Ibadan South East/ North East) and Oyejide Oyesina (Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency).
There is also Stanley Olajide aka ‘Odidi Omo’ (Ibadan North West/South West Federal Constituency), Olufemi Onireti (Ogbomoso North/South/ Oriire Federal Constituency), Yemi Taiwo (Ido/Ibarapa East Federal Constituency), Busari Olayemi (Egbada/ Ona Ara Federal Constituency), Dr. Adepoju Anthony (Ibarapa North/Ibarapa Central Federal Constituency), Ojo Sunday Makanjuola (Ogo Oluwa/Surulere Federal Constituency) and Kamil Akinlabi (Oyo East/Oyo West/Atiba Federal Constituency).
For the state assembly primaries of PDP, the current Speaker of the assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin won his return ticket of the party unopposed. He polled 31 votes. While Oluwafemi Fowokanmi was able to secure his second term ticket too for Ibadan South West Constituency II. Fowokanki scored 8 votes to defeat other aspirants in the race. Samson Fatola scored three votes, Mr Babatunde Ige, three votes and Mr Alarape Abidemi also scored three votes.
Other aspirants who also won PDP tickets in their various constituencies include Opeyemi Akande (Ibadan South East Constituency), Olajide Akintunde (Lagelu Constituency), Yusuf Adebisi (Ibadan South West Constituency 1), Saminu Gbadamosi (Saki East/Atisbo State Constituency), Femi Julius Okedoyin (Saki West), Anthony Oladejo (Iwajowa), Abduraheem Olawale who scored 33 out of 34 votes (Kajola State Constituency) and Hon. Adeola Bamidele (Iseyin/Itesiwaju).
Also on the winners’ list are Olasunkanmi Babalola (Egbeda), Hon (Deacon) Kehinde (Akinyele Constituency 2), who polled 18 votes, Hon. Lekan Abiola with 19 votes (Akinyele 1), Hon Olorunjubelo AbdulAkeem (Oyo East/Oyo West), Oyekola Gbenga Joseph (Atiba), Hon. Nofiu Popoola (Ibadan South East 2), Hon. Abideen Ogundare Adeoye (Surulere/Ogoo luwa), Hon. Oluranti Olubisi (Ogbomoso North), Ogundele Johnson Akintola (Oriire), Peter Oyedokun Gbadegesin (Ibarapa Central) and Oparinde Oladeji (Afijio State Constituency).
-Dare Adeniran
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