By Our Reporter
With five days to the August 15 governorship election, major political parties in Osun State have intensified their campaigns and mobilisation efforts, with the African Democratic Congress, All Progressives Congress and ruling Accord Party stepping up activities across the state.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, held its final campaign rally in Osogbo on Monday in support of its governorship candidate, Najeem Salam, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark and former Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola leading the party’s campaign.
The APC, meanwhile, took its campaign to major markets in Osogbo, with its candidate’s wife, Dr Sekinat Oyebamiji, leading a team of party women to mobilise traders and educate them on how to vote for Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO.
The ruling Accord Party also raised concerns over the credibility of the election logistics, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission to review the coordinators and transport operators reportedly engaged to distribute electoral materials across the state.
The developments came as Governor Ademola Adeleke’s wife, Titilola Adeleke, led members of the State Executive Council and women groups on a peaceful protest in Osogbo, demanding a free, fair and peaceful election.
About 2.3 million registered voters are expected to participate in the election across Osun’s 30 local government areas and the Modakeke Area Council.
Atiku, Mark campaign for Salam
At the ADC rally held at Nelson Mandela Park, Osogbo, Atiku appealed to Osun voters to support Salam, describing the ADC as a credible alternative to the APC and Accord.
The former Vice President recalled his previous political campaigns in Osun and thanked residents for supporting him during past elections.
Atiku said he had previously campaigned in the state for Adeleke and during his own presidential campaign, stressing that he had not forgotten the support he received from Osun voters.
He said he had returned to seek their support for the ADC and expressed optimism that the large turnout at the rally was a sign of victory for the party.
“I’m here to appeal to you again to vote for ADC. This is because ADC is different from APC, Accord and other political parties,” Atiku said.
Mark also urged voters to protect their ballots on election day, saying the rally was an indication of the party’s confidence ahead of the poll.
He said the party expected to celebrate Salam’s victory after the election and urged voters not to allow anyone to manipulate the outcome.
Aregbesola, a former governor of Osun and national secretary of the ADC, said the party would revive social intervention programmes implemented during his administration.
He specifically mentioned programmes such as O’YES for youth empowerment, O’MEALS for school feeding, O’REAP for agriculture and O-AMBULANCE for emergency healthcare.
According to him, Salam represents continuity and would prioritise education, youth empowerment, agriculture, healthcare and social welfare if elected.
Salam, in his remarks, promised to prioritise the welfare of residents and create 20,000 jobs for youths within his first 100 days in office.
He also warned against electoral manipulation, insisting that his supporters would defend their votes.
APC takes campaign to Osogbo markets
The APC intensified its grassroots mobilisation by taking its campaign to women traders in major markets in Osogbo.
The campaign team was led by Dr Sekinat Oyebamiji, wife of the APC governorship candidate, alongside Kafayat Oyetola, wife of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola; former Deputy Governor Titilayo Ponle; Princess Adebukola Adereti, wife of the deputy governorship candidate; and APC Women Leader, Alhaja Kudirat Fakokunde.
The team visited Orisunmbare Market, where they appealed to traders to support Oyebamiji.
Dr Oyebamiji urged market women to vote for the APC candidate, saying the party’s proposed agenda would accommodate women and traders.
She also urged supporters to mobilise voters for the APC while maintaining peace during the election.
Kafayat Oyetola displayed a specimen ballot paper to the traders and explained how voters could identify the APC on the ballot.
She urged voters to look for the APC logo rather than the candidate’s photograph.
The Babaloja of Orisunbare Market, Chief Qamarudeen Adeoti, reportedly assured the APC delegation of the market’s support while criticising the performance of the incumbent Accord administration.
The APC campaign followed the public endorsement of Oyebamiji by former Osun Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who had described the APC candidate as capable of providing a new direction for the state.
Adeleke’s wife demands peaceful election
Also on Monday, Governor Ademola Adeleke’s wife, Titilola Adeleke, led women groups, members of the State Executive Council and other party supporters on a peaceful procession through Osogbo.
The protesters moved from the frontage of the Osun State Government House through the Lameco area before terminating the procession at the headquarters of the Osun State Police Command.
The protesters carried placards calling for an end to alleged intimidation, killings and harassment of political actors ahead of the election.
Mrs Adeleke appealed to security agencies to ensure a peaceful and credible election and called for some political figures allegedly linked to violence to be invited for questioning.
“We are demanding a free and fair election in the forthcoming poll. We want peace; let there be peace,” she said.
However, the Commissioner of Police in charge of election security, Samuel Erale Etaifo, cautioned that political groups should avoid holding rival rallies or protests at the same location because such encounters could heighten tension.
Etaifo said the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, had deployed him to Osun ahead of the election because of the heightened political tension in the state.
He assured the protesters that their complaints would be considered but warned political actors against actions capable of disrupting the peace.
Accord raises concerns over election logistics
Meanwhile, the Accord Party Campaign Council has asked INEC to review the coordinators and transport operators reportedly selected to handle the movement and distribution of election materials across Osun.
The Director-General of the Accord Campaign Council, Senator Lere Oyewumi, made the demand in a letter addressed to the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun and dated August 10.
Oyewumi alleged that some persons included in the logistics arrangements were known chieftains or active supporters of the APC.
He argued that allowing individuals with alleged partisan affiliations to participate in the movement of electoral materials could undermine public confidence in the credibility of the election.
The campaign council therefore urged INEC to immediately review the list and ensure that logistics personnel involved in the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials were politically neutral.
The commission has yet to publicly respond to the specific allegation contained in the Accord campaign council’s letter.
With only days remaining before the election, the final stretch of the Osun governorship contest is now being marked by intensified grassroots mobilisation, heightened security concerns and competing demands for a credible electoral process.
