• as party closes sales from Friday
There is palpable tension in the camp of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Kajola local government council chapter of Oyo state as no fewer than 18 aspirants are struggling 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 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 Governor Seyi Makinde, of the PDP, for a second term in office.
Further checks revealed that APC leaders are currently finding it difficult to choose a consensus candidate among the crowd of 18 aspirants who have indicated their interests interest so far, and the implication of this is that the primary election might be the last resort to pick a candidate.
Sources who preferred anonymity informed 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 the 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 is 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 wali collate, Yahyah, Salau, Yaqub Olaaje, Sunday ogungbenro, Oladepo Bashiru, Monsuru Alawode, Tirimisiyu Adesola, Gabriel Adewoyin and one other.
When contacted 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 have 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 to decide who gets the mandate to fly the flag of the party as either councilorship or chairmanship candidate ahead of the coming council poll. We have published the guidelines and the date picked for the party primary is August 24, 2023. Collection of the Expression of Interest Form will close this Friday and there will not be any extension of the deadline.” Sadare said.
