LG Poll: 18 Jostle for APC Chairmanship Ticket in Kajola As Party Closes Sales of form Friday
LG Poll: 18 Jostle for APC Chairmanship Ticket in Kajola As Party Closes Sales of form Friday.
There is palpable tension in the camp of the All Progressives Congress APC, Kajola local government council chapter of Oyo state as about 18 persons are scrambling to emerge the chairmanship candidate of the party in the council poll which has been slated for April next year.
Kajola, which is one of the 10 local government councils in Oke-Ogun axis of the state, is believed to be a stronghold of the Progressives,APC, as the party recorded good results in the area in the 2023 general election even as Kajola State Constituency was among the four (out of 32) won by the APC in the same election which returned Gov. Seyi Makinde, of the PDP, for a second term in office.
Findings revealed that APC leaders are currently finding it difficult to choose a consensus candidate among the crowd of 18 persons who have indicated their individual interest so far and the implication of this is that the primary election might be the last resort to pick a candidate.
An insider source who preferred anonymity informed our correspondent that some leaders had come up with a resolution that a particular aspirant be made the consensus candidate but this did not go down well with all others who are now determined to go to the field for primary election since the person believed to be the choice of the leaders “was not the most qualified.
Among party men who have shown interest to grab the ticket are a former member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Felix Ige, while others include; Tajudeen Alakara, Isiaka Atanda, Chief Oke Samuel, Daramola Ayorinde, Samuel Ogunrinde, Abiodun Adegoke, Moses Babalola, Bola Moto, Sunmonu Waliu Kolade, Yahyah, Salau, Yaqub Olaaje, Sunday Ogungbenro, Oladepo Bashiru, Monsuru Alawode, Tirimisiyu Adesola, Gabriel Adewoyin and one other.
When asked to comment on the development; the spokesman of Oyo APC, Olawale Sadare, said that the situation was not out of control as “it is an indication that APC is still very popular in the state. The entire Oke-Ogun is for the Progressives and they also proved this in the last general election. So, it is surprising that we are having many seeking to fly the flag of the APC in the coming council poll in Kajola and elsewhere. It is not in Kajola alone that we are having many aspirants jostling for the same ticket and we are determined to sort things out democratically and peacefully.
“The leadership of the Party has made it abundantly clear that internal democracy will play out as we are set to allow members decide who get the mandate to fly the flag of the party as either councilorship or chairmanship candidate ahead of the coming council poll. In fact, we have published the guidelines and the date picked for the party primary is August 24, 2023. Collection of Expression of Interest Form will close this Friday and there will not be any extension of the deadline.” Sadare said.
