Ominous Signals For Aregbesola As APC Loses Osun West To Late Adeleke’s Brother

Brother of the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Ademola Adeleke has been declared winner of the Osun West senatorial bye-election held on Saturday.

Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defeated the candidate of the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led APC party in the state, Mudashiru Hussain by 97,480 to 66,116 votes.

With the victory, he now replaces his brother who died recently at the Senate. He was the sole candidate in APC but defected to the PDP about a day to APC’s primary election. He was eventually returned as PDP’s candidate un-opposed as the party’s other contestants stepped down for him.

Adeleke’s victory, which he secured by winning nine out of 11 local government areas in the district, is viewed by many as a reflection of things to come in the state, with the governorship election slated for next year.

Many have expressed disenchantment for the incumbent administration in the state under the APC, which has been unable to pay workers salaries for several months now.

Allegations are also rife that the little resources the state has earned over the years have been sunk into white elephant projects, with no benefit to people of the state.

With the Victory, PDP now officially controls nine out of the 30 local governments in the state, and poses a greater danger to the chances of APC having a smooth ride in the coming governorship poll in the state.
Read also: Osun 2018: How Sen Adeleke’s death may unsettle Aregbesola’s grand plan
Following Senator Adeleke’s death, Ripples Nigeria had in its story, “Osun 2018: How Senator Adeleke’s death may unsettle Aregbesola’s grand plan” raised such issues as, how the haunting allegation that APC killed Adeleke will be an albatross the ruling party in the state may have to carry with all its possible consequences, going into next year’s governorship election in the state.

In his reaction to the results, Hon Soji Adagunodo, Chairman, PDP, Osun state said the victory was made possible by traditional rulers, Community leaders, professional bodies, pensioners and retirees, Trade Unions, Civil servants, Teachers, Market men and women, Traders and Artisans, Students and Youth organisations, Religious bodies and several other individuals and groups who mobilised support, offered prayers and trooped out in large numbers to elect Otunba Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke as the Senator to represent Osun West Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

He also commended the Security Agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and the Media for discharging their duties professionally in the election.

How PDP’s Adeleke won Osun West bye-election

Iwo (Osun)- The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday announced Mr Ademola Adeleke of the PDP as the winner of the Osun West Senatorial bye-election.

The election was held in 10 local government areas making up the district.

The winner, who is the younger brother of the late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, had 97, 480 votes to defeat a former senator, Mudashiru Hussein of the APC, who had 66, 116 votes,

Announcing the result in Iwo, the Osun West Senatorial headquarters, Mr Baritor Kpagih, INEC Residential Electoral Commissioner for the bye-election, said Adeleke won nine out of the 10 local government areas where the election was held.

He consequently returned Adeleke as senator to complete the tenure of the late Adeleke who died on April 23.

He gave the breakdown of the election result as follows:

Iwo Local Government: APC-12,205 PDP-12,547

Olaoluwa Local Government: APC 5,316 PDP 5,618

Ayedire Local Government: APC 5,360 PDP 5,789

Ejigbo Local Government: APC 12,229 PDP 9,723

Irewole Local Government: APC 8,952 PDP 9,096

Ede North Local Government: APC 2,784 PDP 18,559

Ede South Local Government: APC 2,096 PDP 13,406

Ayedaade Local Government: APC 7179 PDP 9,061

Egbedore Local Government: APC 4,768 PDP 7,142

Isokan Local Government: APC 5227 PDP 6,539

Adeleke would represent the senatorial district till 2019 when another election would be conducted.

Although 12 political parties contested in the bye- election, the two major contenders were the PDP and APC. (NAN)

Adeleke defeats Aregbesola’s candidate

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun West Senatorial District by-election, Ademola Adeleke, on Saturday defeated  the All Progressives Congress candidate, Senator Mudashiru Hussain, with total votes of  97, 480. Adeleke won nine out of the 10 local government areas.

Hussain, who was Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s anointed candidate got 66,116 votes.

In Iwo Local Government Area, Adeleke had 12,547 votes as against Hussain’s 12,205. While in Ejigbo Local Government Area, Hussain’s stronghold, the PDP candidate with 9,723 votes trailed his opponent who polled 12,229 votes.

Again, the former APC member, led with 9,096 votes with Hussain having 8952 votes in Irewole Local Government Area.

In Ayedire Local Government Area, Adeleke had 5,789 votes while Hussain trailed him with 5,360 votes.

It was a similar result in Olaoluwa Local Government Area as Adeleke led with 5,618 votes to Hussain’s 5,316.

The PDP candidate with 18,559 votes, led by a wide margin in Ede North Local Government Area as the APC candidate polled 2,784 votes.

It was a similar result in Ede South Local Government as Adeleke polled 13,406 votes while his opponent had 2,096 votes.

In Ayedaade Local Government Area, PDP had 9,061 votes while APC polled 7,179.

Hussain, who polled 4,768 votes in Egbedore Local Government Area, lost to Adeleke who had 7,142; while in Isokan Local Government Area, the PDP candidate led with 6,539 votes, with his APC counterpart polling 5,227.

Our correspondent observed that the by-election was peaceful in many places as security agents including soldiers were present at various points to prevent any breakdown of law and order just as the police on Saturday arrested three people.

The individuals were accused of attacking voters as they attempted to snatch ballot boxes.

Our correspondent gathered that the hoodlums invaded Igbokiti Unit Ward 10 in Okinnin, Egbedore Local Government Area and attacked some voters, who prevented them from snatching the boxes.

One of the voters, Olusegun Ige, who spoke with SUNDAY PUNCH said, “Some political thugs invaded our unit and attempted to hijack ballot boxes and stuff them with their own ballot papers but they were prevented. They injured some of the people who stopped them. But they were eventually overpowered and arrested by security agents.”

However, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Fimihan Adeoye, when contacted on the telephone said three persons were arrested but not arrested in connection with the election.

Speaking on the poll, Adeleke had said, “The process is going on well and I am very optimistic that with God on my side, I shall be victorious.”

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Osun West Senatorial District, Senator Mudashiru Hussain, who eventually lost the election had also said he was confident of emerging the winner of the poll.

He said, “I want to laud INEC for their arrangements and also want to want to laud the electorate for their enthusiasm. I am very optimistic of victory.”

Accreditation and voting started at 8 am in many polling units with voters trooping out early to exercise their franchise in all the 10 local government areas which make up the senatorial district.

Security was tight in Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore, Ejigbo, Iwo and other local government areas, while most roads were barricaded by soldiers.

Protest rocks Osun state secretariat over unpaid pension arrears

Author: Kess Ewubare

- Pensioners have locked out workers at the
Osun state secretariat in protest to over the
failure of the state government to pay their
pension arrears
- The pensioners maintain that they would
deny workers entry into the building
- One of the leaders of the pensioners, Yemi
Lawal, accuse Governor Rauf Aregbesola of
planning to divert the second tranche of
N12,7 billion Paris Club loan refund
Pensioners have besieged the Osun state
secretariat and locked out workers in
protests over the failure of the state
government to pay their pension arrears
and gratuities
The siege on the secretariat which
occurred on Friday morning, June 30, was
sequel to similar protests a day before,
The Punch reports.
During the Friday protest, the pensioners
prevented workers from gaining
entrance into the facility after they
locked the main gate as well as the
second gate.
The protesters held placard bearing
various inscriptions demanding the
payment of the areas and rained abuses
on the governor.
Security agencies comprising of the
police, operatives of the Department of
State Services and Nigeria Security and
Civil Defeñce Corps were deployed to
ensure that the protest did not turn
violent.

One of the leaders of the pensioners,
Yemi Lawal, maintained that they would
deny workers entry into the building.
He said Governor Rauf Aregbesola was
owing them 12-month pensions and the
gratuities of those who retired between
2008/and 2012 had not been paid.
He accused the governor of planning to
divert the second tranche of N12,7 billion
Paris Club loan refund.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Local
Government Employees (NULGE), has
released a reports showing that at least
23 states of Nigeria currently owe local
government workers their salaries
Ibrahim Khaleel, the national president
of the union, stated this in a statement
issued on Monday, June 26, in Abuja.
Mr Khaleel said that Bayelsa state is
owing local council workers the most
with between 10 and 16 months unpaid.