Newly inaugurated chairman of Nigeria Lottery Regulatory Commission and former Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Political Matters, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle has declared interest to contest Oyo South senatorial seat under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against his former boss and incumbent Governor, Abiola Ajimobi believed to be also eyeing the seat in 2019 elections.
Ajimobi, DAILY POST learnt on Sunday, has began his journey to return to the Senate after two terms as Governor. He was a senator between 2003 and 2007, when he was elected to represent Oyo South under the platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD).
The governor, through one of his aides, Executive Assistant on Political Matters, Dr. Morohunkola Thomas, has been moving around, telling people about the governor’s ambition to return to Senate.
But Ibikunle, who also served as Personal Assistant to former Governor Lamidi Adesina and an indigene of Lanlate in Ibarapa East Local Government Area, said he remained the man to beat in the election despite the fact that there are speculations that Ajimobi is also interested in the race.
Ibikunle, while speaking on his ambition, informed newsmen that he is “the best man to represent the district from 2019”, adding that “my ambition is divine.”
DAILY POST however gathered that with Ibikunle’s declaration, Ajimobi may find it difficult clinching the APC ticket because Ibikunke, who is the leader of Lam Adesina political group (Lamists), enjoys support from many of the members of the party.
Former Chairman, Caretaker Committee in Ibadan North West Local Government Area and coordinator of Itesiwaju-Oyo Coalition Movement, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, who is one of the leaders of the party agitating for Ibikunle’s emergence revealed that leaders of APC must allow the constitution of the party to prevail in all their activities in picking candidates if they are still interested to see the party in power in 2019.
He declared that Oyo South district needs a committed man, whose attributes were found in Ibikunle.
The former Council boss, while warning leaders of the party against imposition of candidates, noted that constitution of the party stated clearly ways through which candidates will emerge in a free, fair and acceptable manner by all and sundry.
Olatunbosun, who harped on the need for the party to allow delegates elect candidates of the party as stated in the constitution, said this was in the best interest of the party so as to allow justice prevail. He also advised thousands of residents who are yet to collect their PVCs do so, as he urged those who are yet to register do so for them to elect candidates of their choice.
Olatunbosun said, “What I believe is that our party should allow the party constitution to prevail. All our actions in picking candidates must be guided by the constitution of the party. And the constitution of our party state how a candidate can emerge in our party. So I stand by the party constitution.
“My advise is that people should endeavour to collect their PVCs, for those who are yet to collect their PVCs, this is the time to collect their PVCs. Look at the number of those who have not collected is about 750,000 next to Lagos so now if you look at the number of people who have collected who really voted in the past elections you will see that the number of those who have not collected is still more than that of those who voted. That means I implore them to go and collect their PVCs, those who have register but have not collected should go, those who have not registered they should go out and register, it is when they do that that we, you can be an asset and value to us.”
Olatunbosun however insisted that the process of picking candidates in the party will be transparent and not be business as usual when some leaders will sit down and pick a candidate detrimental to the party and others.
He said, “So I know what I am saying, by so doing, as far as I am concerned, as far as the party is concerned, it is not going to be business as usual unlike before that the laders will sit down and pick a candidate. This time, it is the delegates that will pick. I still believe.”
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