Osun 2018: Group Accuses Oshiomole of Plan to Rig Primaries for Tinubu’s Candidate

182

The Democratic Front (DF), a pressure group in Osun chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has alleged that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the front runner for the national chairmanship of the party has entered into an unholy pact with Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, the national leader of the party to rig the Osun APC gubernatorial primaries for Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.

In a press statement signed by its Chief Spokesperson, Alhaji Rarzack Adeleke and circulated in Osogbo, the group that is known for championing internal democracy in the party disclosed that it has commenced the mobilization of the state delegates in the forthcoming national convention of the party not to vote for the former governor of Edo State.

The group noted that Oyetola’s supporters have been boasting in several fora across the state that once Oshiomhole is installed as the party national chairman, the gubernatorial ticket of the party is as good as being delivered on platter to Oyetola, the blood brother of Asiwaju Tinubu.

The group, which says it has absolutely nothing against the candidature of the Chief of Staff however noted that, “our concern is the future of our party. We don’t want what happened to us in the Senate rerun election in the West Senatorial district to repeat itself. The only way to avert such danger is to organize a free and fair primary election where all candidates will be treated equally before, during and after the poll.”

The PF also expressed worry about the party’s lackadaisical attitude to the preparation for the Osun gubernatorial primary, lamenting that,   “while our main opposition, PDP has displayed the names of its party delegates that will vote during its primaries that is scheduled to take place a week after our own, we are still debating on the most suitable options for our own primary.”

The group also vowed to resist any attempt by Oshiomhole to impose direct primaries or the so- called option A4 on the party. “Those who are talking about direct primaries or Option A4 are enemies of APC in Osun State. As at today, we don’t have verified membership register of our members across the state. It is practically impossible to use option A4 because it is too primitive and open to manipulation by party leaders.”

The group wondered why some enemies of progress would like to change the model that worked for the party in Ondo, Anambra and Ekiti States when it comes to Osun’s turn. “why trying to mend the process when it is not broken,” the group quipped.