The All Progressives Congress, APC in Osun state will conduct its primary election on Saturday, 19th February to elect the party’s flag bearer for the July 16 governorship election in the state.
The build up to the primary election, has been dominated by the supremacy contest between former governor, Rauf Aregbesola and the incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola.
ait.live takes a look at the crisis and how it will affect the Saturday’s primary election.
It did not take long for the rivalry between the incumbent administration in Osun state, Gboyega Oyetola and his predeccessor, Rauf Aregbesola to manifest after the hand over of power.
Aregbesola Camp alleged that their caucus were not considered for any position in the current cabinet.
They also alleged that most of the policies formulated by the former administration are being reversed by oyetola’s administration.
Aregbesola formed a group called The Osun progressives to protect their political interest, while Oyetola group known as Ileri Oluwa has emerged to advance the interest of the governor.
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The two factions fought for the party’s leadership but it eventually went the way of the incumbent governor, as the national leadership recognized, Gboyega Famoodun as the state chairman, a loyalist of the governor.
Three Aspirants are jostling for the ticket of the party for the July 16th primary election. They are the governor, who is running for the second time, a former Secretary to the State Government Moshood Adeoti who is the preferred candidate of Aregbesola and the former deputy speaker of the federal house of representatives, Rt Hon Lasun Yusuf
The ambition of these three politicians have heightened tensions in the state with plethora of protests and counter protest as well as violent attacks against one another.
While the Aregbesola faction is accusing tbe police of being biased, the governor’s faction is also alleging that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC is aiding the former governor to disrupt the peace of the state
The primary election is expected to be conducted using the direct primary method.
With the highly tensed security situation in the state many residents are hoping and praying that the election will not result in total breakdown of peace .
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
