APC confident they can win Osun election re-run after high-powered delegation meets with Omisore

ALL Progressives Congress (APC) leaders are confident they can overturn the deficit they suffered in the Osun State gubernatorial elections on Saturday after of their several governors reached a deal with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Senator Iyiola Omisore yesterday.

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 Peoples Democratic Party (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 both the PDP and APC to join forces with them come Thursday when their will be a re-run in several polling stations where the vote was cancelled.

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, senate president and PDP presidential candidate Senator Bukola Saraki has visited Senator Omisore to canvass his support and the two parties are negotiating terms regarding an agreement. However, not to be outdone, the APC sent a high-powered delegation to Osun yesterday made up governors Abiola Ajimobi, Abdullahi Ganduje and Ibikunke Amosun of Oyo, Kano and Ogun states as well as Ekiti State governor-elect Kayode Fayemi to woo Senator Omisore.

Also on the delegation were APC chairman Adams Oshiomhole, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives Lasun Yusuf and information minister Lai Mohammed. They are hopeful that with senator Omisore's support, they can overturn the 353 vote deficit and get Alhaji Oyetola elected as governor.

Kunle Oyatomi, the APC's director of publicity, research, and strategy in Osun State, said: “I can confirm to you that our leaders went to Senator Omisore’s residence yesterday and had a good talk with him. We are optimistic that we will win the election and both sides will benefit from that discussion.”

Senator Omisore, who left the PDP for the SDP because the party ticket went in favour of Senator Adeleke, declined to give Senator Saraki his commitment during their talk earlier on in the week. However, after his meeting with the APC team, Senator Omisore Tweeted a photograph of himself and the delegation, indicating that they had reached a deal.

Doyin Okupe, the spokesman of the Saraki Presidential Campaign Council said: “Omisore, I’m told caved in to pressure from APC.” Some reports indicate that Senator Omisore, whose dad is the traditional ruler of Olode in Ife South, joined the APC for a campaign yesterday.