Osun Residents Panic As Omiosre Emerges PDP Candidate

Residents of major towns in the State of Osun have started  panicking as Senator Iyiola Omisore emerged
the flag-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the gubernatorial election in the state in August.

The people of the state have been following development in the party with keen interest as the party primary built up for about two weeks.

Findings showed that the people were concerned with the calibre of aspirant that would eventually emerge as the party candidate, believing it would have a lot with the populace before and during the election.

As the party announced its candidate after the primary, some residents expressed their pessimism on the peaceful conduct of the August 9 poll, particularly with the event leading to the build-up to the party primary election held last Saturday.


An Ilesa trader, Mr Isola Obatola, disclosed after the announcement of the candidacy of the senator that security operatives would have a lot to do in their task of ensuring a violence-free poll in the state.
He noted that the crisis that engulfed the party before the conduct of the primary was a pointer to what the electorate should expect from the PDP in August.

Another resident in Ikirun, Mr Safiu Ayanlande, disclosed that having followed development in the state in the last six months, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would have to convince Nigerians with the conduct of a fair poll in the state ahead of the 2015 general elections in the country.

According to him, it does not matter who emerges as PDP candidate or how the person emerged, but whether the electorate in the state would have a chance to vote during the election and if their votes would count.

“I am saying that the peoples’ votes must be allowed to count. In other words,  INEC would have to convince Nigerians with the election in Ekiti and Osun that it is capable of giving Nigerians an election they would be proud of,” he added.

Also, Mr Bashir Alabi in Osogbo said the people would have to be very careful and vigilant, as the PDP primary has shown the direction the party is tilting for the August gubernatorial election.

He emphasised the need for the concerned institutions to be objective before and during the conduct of the election, especially as violence preceded the conduct of the PDP primary election in the state.

Also, it was gathered that residents across the state were surprised with the outcome of the party primary, particularly as Senator Isiaka Adeleke pulled out due to threat on his life and those of his supporters.

According to some residents, if the likes of Adeleke could pull out due to threats, what is likely to happen to the electorate who do not have the wherewithal to confront the enormous violence associated with the PDP.

(Osundefender)