A few days to the Osun State governorship election, major political parties yesterday intensified efforts to win over the electorate.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) held its final campaign rally in Osogbo to canvass support for its candidate, former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Najeem Salam.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), basking in the public declaration of support by former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, took its campaign to women, with a team led by the party’s candidate’s wife, Dr. Sekinat Oyebamiji.

The team moved into major markets in Osogbo, the state capital, to educate women on how to vote for the APC.

The ruling Accord Party’s campaign council urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to review its logistics arrangements to ensure that all was in place for Saturday’s election.

Also yesterday, Governor Ademola Adeleke’s wife, Titilola, led members of the State Executive Council and other party leaders on a rally to demand a free and fair election.

There are 2.3 million registered voters for the election, which will hold in the 30 local government areas and the Modakeke Area Council.

Atiku, Mark campaign for Salam

ADC leaders, led by National Chairman David Mark, presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, a former governor of the state, were at the Nelson Mandela Park, Osogbo, to campaign for Salam.

They urged the electorate to vote for the ADC, describing the party as a credible alternative to the APC and Accord.

Atiku recalled his long-standing political relationship with the people of Osun, noting that the state had supported him in the past.

He said he had previously campaigned in Osun for Governor Ademola Adeleke and for his own presidential bid, recalling that the people of Osun gave him their support on both occasions.

Atiku said: “This is the fourth time I am standing on this podium. Each time I stood here, you have given me your vote.

“I cannot forget that because your daughter is in my house (Mrs Titi Atiku, who hails from Ilesa, is the former vice president’s senior wife).

“I came here for the current governor, and I told you, people, to support him, and you voted for him. I came here on my presidential campaign; you voted for me. For me, I can’t forget that.”

former Vice President said he was in Osun to personally thank voters for their past support and to ask for their votes again.

He added: “I have come today to appeal to you again to vote for ADC. This is because ADC is different from APC, Accord and other political parties. The best of Nigerians today are in ADC.”

Atiku expressed optimism that the large turnout at the rally signalled victory for the ADC.

He said: “I thank you very much for your turnout, which is quite impressive, and that has given us optimism that in the next elections we are going to win; you are going to win.”

Mark said the rally was meant to celebrate the party’s victory in advance, urging voters to vote and protect their votes.

He said: “What we are here to do is celebrate the victory that will come to the ADC on Saturday. Our presidential candidate is here with us, and this shows the love he has for this party.

“By the time we swear in Najeem Salam in November, we will be here again to march with you to the Government House.

“On Saturday, protect your votes. Don’t allow anybody to rig you out. They will not rig and get away with it.”

Aregbesola said the ADC was genuinely committed to the welfare of the people.

He said the ADC governorship candidate would bring back all his laudable programmes if elected, adding that the ADC would reintroduce school feeding across public primary schools and expand other social intervention schemes abandoned by successive governments.

He said: “We invested in healthcare, social welfare, and emergency response systems like O-AMBULANCE. We introduced O’YES for youth empowerment, O’MEALS for school feeding, and O’REAP for agriculture. These and many more laudable programmes will be back under Iwaloye.”

Aregbesola described Salam as the face of continuity, urging the electorate to vote for him.

He said: “This election is about the future of Osun. Quality education, youth opportunities, farmer prosperity, and a government that truly serves the people.”

Salam, who promised to prioritise the wellbeing of Osun people, warned against rigging.

The ADC candidate promised jobs for 20,000 youths in his first 100 days in office.

He said: “On Saturday, nobody would be allowed to rig us out. If we win the election, I want to tell you that our electricity will be stable. We have a solution to that, and it is a promise.”

AMBO’s wife: vote for APC

The shock declaration of support for the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, on Sunday was still reverberating across Osun State yesterday.

It was the talking point across the state and on radio stations.

Oyinlola wrote off Adeleke as incompetent, saying the state needed a new direction which only Oyebamiji could offer.

Dr Sekinat Oyebamiji, wife of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Kafayat, and former Deputy Governor Titilayo Ponle moved around the Osogbo market to mobilise market men and women.

Also on the mobilisation train were the wife of the deputy governorship candidate, Princess Adebukola Adereti, and APC Women Leader, Alhaja Kudirat Fakokunde.

They urged traders at the popular Orisunmbare Market to vote for Oyebamiji, assuring them that he would work for the progress of the state.

Dr Oyebamiji said: “This market is homecoming for us. You are all familiar with AMBO and his agenda for our dear state. My mothers, Iyalojas, well done for your mobilisation for our party.

“I was told that market women in Orisunmbare would not support us, but I refuted the claim. Now I am more confident that you are for us after inviting us here to canvass for you and educate you on where to vote.

“You have received the message of AMBO, and you only want to hear it more clearly by inviting us here today. I am confident that the PROPER agenda will accommodate women, especially traders, largely because we can’t talk about prosperity without you.”

She added: “I want to tell you that AMBO is the answer to the economic reform of Osun State for prosperity.

“Please, go out en masse to cast your vote for AMBO. While going to polling units, don’t go alone but take along six people to cast your votes for APC. This vote must be massive. Don’t listen to their propaganda and don’t fight them.”

Mrs Oyetola displayed the specimen of the ballot paper to the market women, urging them to vote for the APC.

She said: “You will not see the picture of AMBO on the ballot but APC with its logo. Vote for us and you will not regret it. I can assure you.”

The Babaloja of Orisunbare, Chief Qamarudeen Adeoti, assured the team of their support, lamenting that the current Accord government had failed them.

Governor’s wife seeks credible poll

Mrs Titilola Adeleke, members of the State Executive Council and women’s groups staged a peaceful protest in Osogbo, demanding a free, fair and peaceful election.

The protesters converged at the frontage of the Osun State Government House before marching through the Lameco area and terminating the procession at the headquarters of the Osun State Police Command.

They carried placards bearing various inscriptions, demanding an end to alleged intimidation, killings and harassment of political actors.

Mrs Adeleke appealed to the police to invite some political figures for questioning over alleged violence.

She said: “We are demanding a free and fair election in the forthcoming poll. We want peace; let there be peace.”

She alleged that some political leaders were being targeted for arrest, urging security agencies to protect residents and political actors.

The Police Commissioner in charge of election security, Samuel Erale Etaifo, commended the protesters for the peaceful protest.

However, he warned that such gatherings could create tension if rival political groups were to converge at the same location.

Etaifo said he had been in Osun State for about two weeks, following heightened political tension, adding that the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, had deployed him to the state to help stabilise the situation.

He said: “I have utmost respect for women. If not for that, I would have directed my men to stop you. I have been here for the past two weeks.

“The IG was here because of the heightened tension in the state. For the first time in history, the IG directed CP Election to come three weeks before the election.

“If you notice, since I came, we have relative peace in the state. But the problem we have is that we cannot continue to tolerate what you have done today because it will not contribute to peace; it will cause tension again.

“Let us assume that you come out now and the other party comes out, then both of you meet, what will happen?”

He assured the protesters that their complaints would be looked into, saying the command would restrategise to address their demands.

Etaifo said: “If you are a manipulator of any election, that is even the worst. The IG and Nigeria will not forgive you. I will arrest you and take you to Abuja because this election is a federal election; we must get it right.”

The commissioner urged the protesters to return peacefully to their starting point, assuring them that police personnel would escort them.

Review logistics operators, Accord tells INEC

Accord Party Campaign Council called on INEC to immediately review the list of coordinators and transport operators engaged for the movement and distribution of election materials ahead of the election.

The council alleged that some of the individuals listed to coordinate the logistics of election materials across the state were known chieftains and active supporters of the APC, describing their alleged involvement as capable of undermining confidence in the credibility of the electoral process.

Director-General of the Campaign Council, Senator Lere Oyewumi, made the demand in a letter addressed to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in Osun, dated August 10.

Oyewumi said the council had been reliably informed that INEC had compiled a list of coordinators and transport operators who would handle the logistics, movement and distribution of election materials across the state’s 30 local government areas. (The Nation, but headline reworked)