Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola have renewed their political rivalry as the state prepares for local government election slated for February 22nd 2025.
The duo started their political rivalry since 2018 when they contested for governorship which was won by Oyetola. However, Adeleke won the seat in 2022 after defeating the Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was the incumbent.
Recently, they have renewed their hostility over the planned local government election slated for February 22nd 2025.
It was gathered that the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had penetrated the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) executives to ensure that it carries the day by securing all the council seats.
A source in IPAC who confided in NewsNGR explained that the council had held a meeting where it was resolved that they would oppose the conduct of the LG poll because Adeleke appointed his aide, Barrister Hashim Abioye as the chairman of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC).
“We doubted the neutrality of Abioye, hence we resolve that he must be changed before we go ahead with the poll. Subsequently, they reached out to us and the leadership of IPAC later gave a nod to go ahead with the poll.
“The decision infuriated some of the members because they were not carried along. This made those who agreed to go ahead with the poll among the executive to form G-5.
“APC leadership too wooed others who are opposed to the agreement with the Adeleke’s side. So for now, among the IPAC, APC had wooed some while PDP wooed others. This is to ensure that the opposition fall the ruling party.”
Another source in IPAC disclosed APC had perfected their scheme to ensure that PDP loses more council seat in the forthcoming LG poll.
“Oyetola’s people have reached out to many of us and majority of IPAC members will support either APC or PDP.”
Reacting to the development, the spokesperson of IPAC, Dr Gbenga Afeni said “we have resolved issue we had with OSIEC and we are in support of the conduct of the election.”
Also, APC through its State Secretary, Kamorudeen Alao disclosed that APC had showed intention to participate in the local government election slated for February 22nd 2025.
He said, “We are ready to win all the seats across the state.”
Also, a social-political group, Osun Progressives Youths in United Kingdom(O-SPYUK) through its Coordinator, Tunmise Ajiboye warned against any malpractices during the council poll.
He said: “The whole state knows that Adeleke appointed an ex-Secretary of PDP who also served in his cabinet as the boss of OSIEC but I can tell you that Osun People will resist any suspected manipulation.”
Meanwhile, the ruling PDP had been embroiled in crisis for weeks over the candidates for the LG poll.
It was learnt that many of the members of the Caretaker Transition Committee(CTC) of LG who were appointed by Adeleke in 2023 wanted to secure the tickets but the party also wanted to impose candidates.
In Iwo, some former CTC members thronged to the house of a leader of the party alleging that he collected N3.3m from them to secure the flag of the party for the LG poll.
The CTC accused their leaders of collecting the money from them to return them back to office and now negotiations has failed.
They asked for refund of the alleged bribe and equally called for resignation of one Nurudeen Emiloju.
Also, in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, members thronged to the streets to protest against imposition of candidate by the leadership of PDP.
They were chanting songs against the party and registering their displeasure over what they described as cheating.
Also, a strong leader of the party in Boripe Local Government Area, Falilat Arike Yusuf (Ero-Arike) lamented that PDP cheated her by giving the chairmanship ticket to someone else who is not her husband.
In a viral video, she was crying and wailing that the party robbed her of her entitlement after they concluded plans not to give her husband the chairmanship ticket of PDP.
According to her “When they appointed Caretaker Committee for Boripe council, they refused to appoint my husband, Akeem. I raised concerned but they assured me at the country home of the governor that my husband will be given ticket of the party for LG election.
“I have spent money for party Excos for this, I refused to be disappointed, I worked so hard for the party. Now, they have concluded plans not to give him the ticket. I have laboured so hard for this party. It is unfortunate that I am getting this in return.”
Falilat wailed and cried profusely in the video noting that her disappointment will force her out of PDP.
Another video which emerged from the social media revealed how a leader of PDP was warning the leadership of the party against imposition of candidates across the state.
The leader of PDP, who identified himself as Chief Ade said, “We need to warn Yeye Dupe (Adeleke’s sister) not to create problems within PDP. She is not the governor, hence, she can not hold us to ransom and impose candidate on us. If she tries to do that, the forthcoming Governorship election, Ademola Adeleke will cry.”
Also, the party’s Ex-Officio for Ife East council, Olalekan Olawole, in a viral video that he made at Moore Divisional Police Headquarters where he was taking refuge after an attempt on his life by some hoodlums called for help, saying his life was not safe over the forthcoming local government election.
Oluwole was seen in the video as he was shouting while almost naked, which suggested he had been attacked by some individuals.
He said, “I am staying inside this police station till whenever, they almost killed me at my hotel at Ife City Area college by political thugs sponsored by a leader of the party in Osun State.”
Similarly, members and executive of PDP around Owode-Igbona, namely; Akeem Owolabi (Ward vice-chairman), Wakili Animashahun(PDP Local Assistant Secretary), Sodiq Mustapha, Sakirat Lateef and Animashahun Fawas were arraigned before the court over public fight.
It was gathered that the crisis around party candidacy for the LG poll caused the fight.
However, the Osun PDP Director of Media and Publicity, Oladele Bamiji when contacted said, “We are solving the issue democratically. Those issues they raised are normal at this period. But most of them are raising issues that are artificial, they want to force the hand of the party to do their bidding.
“In the case of attempted assassination, you can see that the person was taking refuge at the police station while making the video.”
Also, the Chairman of PDP, Sunday Bisi disclosed that the party had conducted its LG primaries between August 17th and 18th peacefully.
He commended leaders and members of the party for conducting themselves peacefully during the primaries.
He equally praised the party faithful for their maturity and sense of purpose, which ensured that the exercise was successful and peaceful across all 332 electoral wards in the state.
As at last night, results from all the 332 wards have been turned in by officials appointed by the PDP to oversee the conduct of the primary election.
His words: “The peaceful conduct of our members during the primaries is another testament to our party’s commitment to democracy and unity.
“I am proud to lead such a disciplined and responsible team, and I appreciate the efforts of all stakeholders who made the exercise a success.”
He urged the party members to sustain the tempo by working together towards a victorious outing in the February 25, 2025 local government elections in the state.