Political development in Oyo State is becoming interesting as residents of the state prepare to elect a new governor that will pilot the affairs of the state for the next four years.
Already, the Independent National Electoral Commission has indicated that no fewer than 37 political parties have fielded candidates for the race to the Agodi Government House in the governorship election, even as political analysts believe that the contest may be beyond the ruling All Progressives Congress and the major opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
A few political analysts believe that the ruling party, which has Adebayo Adelabu, the grandson of the state’s former popular politician, Adegoke Adelabu, a.k.a Adelabu Penkelemesi, as its candidate, may be in a vantage position to coast home to victory in the race.
Adelabu is said to be currently enjoying the backing of the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and that of the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, among other bigwigs in the state.
However, the opposition parties are determined to end the reign of the ruling party, in the state. This is as many aggrieved members of the APC, who left the party to other political parties, appear determined to ensure that they spoil the show for the party’s flag bearer.
Recall that the APC guber candidate, Adelabu, was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan as the Deputy Governor, Operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria in February 2014, a position he held until his resignation in 2017, to go into active politics.
On the part of the opposition, the PDP is fielding an astute politician and a thorough-bred professional, Engr. Seyi Makinde, as its flag bearer. Makinde is the son of a renowned teacher turned accountant, Pa Olatunosun Makinde.
Makinde contested for the same number one position in the state in 2015 on the platform of the Social Democratic Party, against incumbent Governor Ajimobi. He is a philanthropist and has funds to run the expensive campaign. His political slogan –“ Omituntutun” is fondly enjoyed by his supporters across the state.
ADC as a major force to watch out for
One party that is expected to slug it out with the ruling party, according to keen observers of the trend of politics in the state, is the African Democratic Congress. The ADC has a former legislator, Senator Femi Lanlehin, as its candidate in the race. Lanlehin, popularly called SOLAN, was the senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, comprising Ibadan North, Northeast, Northwest, Southwest, Southeast and Ibarapa East, Central and North.
He was a legal advisor of the Alliance for Democracy in Lagos State in 1998, Commissioner for Special Duties, and then Special Adviser to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Aside from the fact that many of the electorate still point at some of his productive projects, even while out of office, as a show of his close touch with the grassroots, analysts have said that the wide acceptance of ADC in the state, in spite of the initial crisis, which rocked the party, is a factor that could make the party shock the ruling APC in the next governorship polls. This aside, the presence of two serving and vibrant senators – Senator Monsurat Sunmonu (Oyo Central), and Senator Soji Akanbi (Oyo South) – as well as many serving House of Representatives and House of Assembly members, who are also contesting, makes the ADC one to beat at the polls.
Observers in Oyo State have also opined that the forthcoming governorship election in the state will not be as usual, especially as the presence of the ADC, African Democratic Party and the SDP will pose a big challenge to APC and PDP, which consider themselves as big political
parties.
African Democratic Party
The African Democratic Party is believed to be a party that will also give others a run for their money. The party has an erstwhile Oyo State Governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, as its governorship candidate. It is believed that Alao-Akala has the influence that is needed to return him to the seat he once occupied for four years.
Recall that he finished third in the 2015 governorship election. Generally, it is affirmed that age and party recognition would be great factors for him. People’s belief is that the opposition to his candidature is because he not an Ibadan indigene.
Zenith Labour Party
In Zenith Labour Party, however, Barrister Sarafafeen Abiodun Alli is the flag bearer. He is a former Secretary to the State Government and, later, Chief of Staff, during the Senator Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja administration. He is also the immediate past chairman of Oodua Investment Company Limited. He is riding on the back of the former governor, Senator Ladoja. Undoubtedly, he is another respected grassroots and wise politician in the state.
Accord Party
Hon. Saheed Ajadi is the candidate of the Accord Party, having won the party’s guber primary on October 4, 2018. Since then, he has been busy soliciting support of many people in the state.
Other parties
Other candidates from other parties in the race include Ademola Babatunde Oye of the Justice Must Prevail Party, Olaide Olayiwola of KOWA, Olatunji Sodiq of Labour Party, Taiwo Otegbeye of Providence People’s Party, Gbadamosi Alagbe of People’s Party of Nigeria, Mobolaji Ayorinde, Social Democratic Party; and Akinwale Laosun of the African Action Congress, among
others.
ROSIJI ADEYEMI
IBADAN
