Oyo 2019 Elections: Surprises And Challenges Ahead || By Akinyode Ishola

I don’t know what to write when the much anticipated February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections sprang expected and unexpected surprises as well as disrupting the permutations and calculations of the political analysts.

The poll was also a tedious exercise for the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), especially the Presiding Officers, Returning Officers, Chief Returning Officers and Domestic and Foreign Election Observers.

Members of the fourth estate of realm were not left out especially in the area of informing the public on the happenings and giving situation reports of the elections to their respective media houses.

The Presidential and National Elections held on Saturday February 23, no doubt sprang some surprises and challenges that changed the political permutations and calculations; hence the need for realignment in the Oyo state politics.

Since the Nation’s return to uninterrupted democracy in May 1999, battle to take over the Agodi Government House always attract more attention within and outside the state, the reason is that Ibadan has remained the political headquarters of the Southwest where political decisions were usually concluded.

Now, all political parties have tested their strengths and perhaps know the weaknesses as well as identified the strongholds ahead of the March 9 Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections

The big question is who will occupy the Agodi Government House?

No doubt, with the permutations and calculations on ground, especially with the outcome of the February 23 Elections, one can easily concludes that the battle is between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic party (PDP).

Even on social media platforms and newspapers’ stands, the discussion is about Adebayo Adelabu of the APC and Seyi Makinde of the PDP, while some members of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Oyo State was allegedly canvassing for Seyi Makinde, some Muslim Organizations drummed their supports for Adebayo Adelabu  making the battle more interesting.

However, statistically, the APC has formidable structure in all the 33 local governments across the state plus 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) plus the unprecedented achievements of the state government in the last seven and half years. It is expected nothing less than victory at the poll.

Although APC won 9 House of Representatives’ seats and two senatorial districts, but poor results from Ibarapa land and some local governments in Ibadan which
necessitated the loss of Oyo South Senatorial District to opposition can not make the APC to rest comfortably.

On the part of the PDP, the results of Saturday February 23 elections was a greater improvement when compared to the outcome of 2015 elections

The Presidential election results also revealed that PDP won Oyo state with margin of 1000 votes, meaning that they are ready to slog it out with the progressive

Transfer Window

The term transfer window is not new to lovers of round leather game,the two leading political parties now signed new players ahead of the Oyo 2019 political champions league final.

The new signing of APC, as learnt included, Former Governor of Oyo state, Otunba Adebayo Alao- Akala, Hon Olatoye Sugar, Hon Adigun Hammed, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, Hon Dapo Lam Adesina, Sen Monsurat Sunmonu, Sen Adesoji Akanbi and other members of the African Democratic Party (ADP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC)

The new signing will join the already established team led by the incumbent Governor of the State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, former Senate leaderand Senator elect, Teslim Folarin, Senator Fatai Buhari and others ready for Saturday Final Clash.

The new signing in the PDP Camp, though yet to be sealed as at the time filling this report; are Former Governor of Oyo state and Ibadan High Chief, Rashidi Ladoja, Senator Femi Lanleyin, Barrister Sarafadeen Alli and others.

This new signing will work harmoniously with Team Seyi MAKINDE of the PDP led by Senator- Elect Muhammad Kola Balogun, Bisi Ilaka, former House Leader, Mulikat Adeola among others.

Of course, the referee will be the Chief returning officer of the state, Barrister Mutiu Agboke, Assisted by state Returning officer and Presiding officers at various polling units with security agents serve as Video Assistant Referees.

According to a Communist Tyrant Josef Stalin “Those who cast the votes decide nothing, those who count the votes decide everything ”

Without Iota of doubt, the March 9 polls may be the most keenly contested governorship election in Oyo state as all eyes are on who will succeed ‘Mr Constituted Authority’ (CA) in the race to Agodi Government House.