By The fierce battle for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has reached its climax as the ruling party holds its primary election on Saturday.
Leading the race for the ticket is incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola who is seeking a second term in office, and a former Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti — the anointed candidate of ex-governor and Interior minister, Rauf Aregbesola.
Recall that the minister who had been engaged in a feud with his successor recently declared that Oyetola has failed to consolidate on his (Aregbesola) eight-year achievements, hence he is underserving of re-election.
Aregbesola, who leads a faction of the Osun APC, also took a swipe at his erstwhile political benefactor, presidential hopeful Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, accusing the former Lagos State governor of imposing Oyetola on the people of Osun State.
Addressing a group of supporters, the minister endorsed Adeoti and urged party faithfuls to continue to work in unity to ensure that the ex-SSG secures the APC guber ticket at the primaries.
Since the ex-governor dropped the bombshell, there has been palpable tension in the Osun political space, amid accusations and counter-accusations between Aregbesola’s supporters and the Osun State Government over an attack on the minister’s convoy.
Meanwhile, the crises in the party which are largely due to the ongoing war between Aregbesola and his successor Oyetola will no doubt play out during the primary election. There are also strong indications that violence might characterise the process, though security operatives have been positioned around major areas in the state capital, Osogbo.
