February 19, (THEWILL) – Some members of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State at Ward 15, in Oyan town, Odo Otin North Local Government Area, have alleged that their names were removed from the party membership register.
The party members claimed that despite having the party’s membership cards, their names were missing on the register at the wards for the primary election.
Some of those who made the allegation are members of The Osun Progressives, which the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has openly identified with.
Some top members in Ward 7 in Odo Otin, also complained that their names were removed from the party membership register.
One of them, Adesola Adegbite, said the removal of their names was deliberately done to disenfranchise them.
“This morning, our people gathered here at CMS ground in Oyan town. We were very excited and waiting to cast our votes. After some minutes, we observed that they (referring to voting officials) brought out some papers, and they pasted them on the walls.
“We were told that the papers contain names of APC registered members. When we went to check the list, we did not see our names. Our names have been removed, despite that, we are with our membership cards. This is why we are protesting that the primary should be free and fair”, she said.
Another APC member, who identified herself as Afolabi Adenike, alleged that party members loyal to The Osun Progressives (TOP) faction did not find their names on the membership list.
However, the Commissioner for Finance in the state, Bola Oyebamiji, has expressed satisfaction with the turnout of voters in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area.
He also lauded the security arrangement put in place for the exercise.
Oyebamiji, who was also Finance Commissioner under Aregbesola, expressed confidence that Governor Gboyega Oyetola would win the ticket ahead of the two other contestants.
Meanwhile, there is a tight security presence in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
The security presence may not be unconnected to the clashes that have been recorded before the election day, in some parts of the state over a leadership crisis.
There are currently two factions of the APC in Osun. One faction is loyal to Gboyega Oyetola, the governor, who is seeking re-election.
The other faction is the backing of the minister of interior and former governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola.
The contestants have been in a war of words before now.
One of the contestants, Moshood Adeoti, a former state chairman of the party, is the anointed candidate of the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
Also in the race is a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf.
The winner of the primary election will emerge flag bearer of the APC for the Osun governorship election scheduled to hold on July 16, 2022.
The exercise is being held in 323 wards in the state and the party has approved a direct primary for the exercise.
