Omisore and PDP work out details of cooperative pact ahead of Thursday's election re-run

OSUN State gubernatorial aspirant Senator Iyiola Omisore appears to be willing to do a deal with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Thursday's governorship election re-run that will be a straight fight between Senator Ademola Adele and Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.

Last Saturday, Osun State went to the polls to elect a new governor and in what was a cliff-hanger of an election, Senator Ademola Adeleke of the PDP secured 254,698 votes, while Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola of the APC got 254,345 votes. Senator Iyiola Omisore of the SDP came third with 128,049 votes and is currently being wooed by the PDP to join forces with them come Thursday.

Already, senate president and PDP presidential candidate Senator Bukola Saraki has visited Senator Omisore to canvass his support and it appears the two parties are negotiating terms regarding an agreement. Nigeria's Independent national Electoral Commission (Inec), declared the result inconclusive because it had cancelled 3,498 votes in seven polling units located in Osogbo, Orolu, Ife North and Ife South local government areas as a result of irregularities.

As a result, Senator Omisore will now be a key factor in Thursday's re-run because the two Ife local government areas are his strongholds and his support could be a key decider. Already, the PDP has gone to court to ask that Inec declare Senator Adeleke the winner, although the candidate himself has appealed to the people in the four local government areas to come out and vote for him en masse on Thursday.

Senator Omisore said: “Over the past four months, I have worked with committed people who have given time and resources to our shared agenda for restoration. I am confident that while we might appear to have lost an election, we have won the greater victory, the clarion call by all our people for good governance and accountability.

"We have positively impacted on electoral campaigns and elections in Osun state promoting inclusion, people-centeredness and shied completely away from vote buying, voter intimidation and thuggery.  The SDP campaign was factual, informed and inclusive and our manifesto presented to the people an agenda for the restoration of good governance and human dignity, whose five pillars spoke to our needs across all sectors, promoted access that would leave no one behind and a reversal of reckless financial management of the current APC government in Osun state towards shared prosperity and economic growth."

He thanked everyone who supported the restoration agenda for their commitment and work, saying it is the core of the democracy being sought in Osun State. “Senator Iyiola said he remains committed to this without any prejudice to the next steps collectively taken as the state move towards the re-run.

"Politicians have stayed professionals only because the voters have remained amateurs. We shall continue to invest in democratic education and political awareness of our people, so vote buying is totally eliminated in the most peaceful and democratic ways.

"The SDP shall not leave the Osun state to corrupt wheeler dealers but shall continue to commit to social justice and equity until we can be assured that our electoral processes are sanitized and give us the state of our dreams. I thank you all," Senator Omisore added.

Another PDP presidential candidate Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has called on Inec to be fair in the conduct of the Thursday’s election re-run, warning that any form of conspiracy against Senator Adeleke would be resisted. He told PDP supporters that it is important they stay strong and stand by Senator Adeleke and the party.