APC, PDP lock horns as Adeleke set for governorship seat in Osun

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are still battling it out at the court of public opinion and the Election Petition Tribunal over the July governorship election in Osun State, barely four days to the assumption of office of Governor-elect, Ademola Adeleke.

The two parties have taken to war of words and media frenzy, making allegations and counter allegations each other.

Governor Gboyega Oyetola, it was learnt, is already prepared to leave office amidst temporarily as he is said to be hoping of victory at the tribunal.

The governor, at different events, vowed to reclaim his mandate at the ongoing tribunal. Specifically, during the 31st Iragbiji day celebration in Boripe Local Government on Saturday, the governor said he was optimistic that he would grace the 32nd celebration of the annual event as the governor of the state.

Nevertheless, he has been busying commissioning road networks across the state while the PDP is preparing for the takeover of government.

The Governor-elect, Adeleke has chided Oyetola over his refusal to accept defeat, asking him to stop hallucinating.

Adeleke in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed said the defeated politician had no mandate to reclaim as he was soundly beating on July 16.

Wondering why Oyetola is gradually becoming a threat to the wellbeing of Osun people, Adeleke opined that the consistent election denying outburst of the governor paints him as “a self-serving politician with fascist mind-set harbouring politically wicked agenda against the good people of Osun state.”

The governor- elect who called attention to alleged rabid pillaging of Osun State assets since the July election, noted that the many lies of Oyetola on the governorship tribunal have been exposed and his petition punctured as baseless and unfounded, deriding “the antics of a false democrat whose role model are little tyrants and Trumpists of this world.”

Adeleke particularly tackled Oyetola for exhibiting the “highest level of leadership hypocrisy in recent Nigerian history as he supervises last minute ruining of the state while parroting his false hope of reclaiming a non-existing mandate.”

“You know you are going. You are emptying the treasury and laying bobby traps for Osun people. Yet, you mount rooftop every now and then to deceive your gullible associates and accomplices in political banditry.

“Our message to you and your team is simple. This is your last week in Government House. Pack all what you want. But be rest assured that every official, elected or appointed, who partake in the diversion of our common patrimony, will have their day before people’s panels of inquiry,” he said.

But despite the attacks and counter attacks by both parties, the incoming government is leaving no stone unturned as it has outlined a week-long activities for the inauguration/swearing-in of the governor-elect.

The planned inauguration has also pitched the parties against each other as the PDP accused APC of a clandestine move to disrupt Sunday’s event.

State’s PDP Caretaker Chairman, Dr. Akindele Adekunle has directed members and supporters to embark on fasting and prayers to ensure successful transition of power.

Adekunle, in a statement in Osogbo, instructed members to go to their mosques, churches and their places of worship to seek divine support as the state moves towards transition of power.

“Let us again continue to report to the Almighty God who enthrones and dethrones. Let us intensify our prayers for divine grace on Osun state to witness eventual enthronement of Senator Ademola Adeleke as the next executive governor of Osun state. This week is declared as days of heavenly intervention such that the armour of God which Adeleke’s two-finger- symbol represent will reign supreme in Osun state,” he said.

Adekunle also urged party members to be peaceful and be on the lookout for provocations from the APC members and leaders, admonishing them to hold fast to God as the party move to the last phase of the political struggle.

“You will be tempted. You will be provoked. Be mindful not to fall for their trap, their hidden agenda to set the state ablaze. Be conscious of our responsibilities to Man and God to ensure peaceful transition on Sunday,” he noted.

He also called on the Inspector General of Police to deeply monitor development in the state and deploy surveillance team to ensure a seamless change of government on November 27th.

The PDP Chief noted that South West is a politically volatile zone where altering the will of the people in the past had erupted in political instability, advising that plotting against peaceful transition is the greatest disservice any leader can do to the people of the state. 

Meanwhile, the State Police Command has warned political miscreants to vacate the state or face the full weight of the law ahead of the inauguration.

Commissioner of Police, Olaleye Faleye who gave the warning shortly after  a Joint Security Council meeting on Tuesday stated: “We have heard a lot of rumours and misinformation that the programme may be disrupted, thugs are coming in to take the pack by force, burn party offices, tear posters, We just want to warn them, they should not dare us, and anyone who wants to foment trouble will have themselves to blame.

“We are aware that there are thug forces and we’ve met with the two parties and they’ve assured us that nothing will distort Sunday’s programme.

“But the third party spreading misinformation, but we are equal to that task, as we have discussed in the meeting. We have mapped out our plans. We just want to sound a note of warning; nobody should dare us.”

One of the legal counsel to Governor Gboyega Oyetola in the ongoing election petition tribunal, Barr. Kunle Adegoke, SAN said the ongoing proceedings has nothing to do with Sunday’s inauguration.

Adegoke, while reacting to the insinuation that the Sunday inauguration ceremony might not hold due to the ongoing tribunal told our correspondent that “there is nothing like that. The inauguration will hold.”

Our correspondent also spoke with the media consultant to the APC chairman, Chief Kola Olabisi on the allegations that the party is trying to disrupt the inauguration.

Olabisi said, the allegation is baseless, unfounded, fabricated and without any proof

“This cannot be true as the allegation is a constitutional issue. What is pretty certain is that Governor Gboyega Oyetola has the constitutional power for the first term of his renewable tenure to be in charge of the government of Osun State till the midnight of November 26, 2022. He has the constitutional protection to discharge his pact with the people of the state within his four-year tenure.

“However, we should not forget the fact that the matter is still a subject of a fierce litigation at the ongoing governorship election petition tribunal in Osogbo. 

“The allegation that the APC is trying to disrupt the inauguration is not true. It is baseless, unfounded, fabricated and without any proof. 

“If the fact that because Governor Oyetola and the APC are diligently prosecuting their matter at the tribunal is misconstrued by some emissary of rifts, it is sad that some uninformed minds can be spewing falsehoods in order to score cheap political point.

“The APC and its governorship candidate are ardent believers and doers of the rules of law while Governor Oyetola is peace and humility personified political leader who can never resort to violence to claim his right within the purview of the allowance of the constitution.  

“The allegation should be disregarded as it’s a mere composition crafted by some enemies of democracy for a cacodemonic intention which can neither sit nor fly.”