- Committee displays register for transparency
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State on Friday said his committee will be fair to all aspirants in the Saturday’s APC governorship primaries in Osun.
Speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo, the state capital, AbdulRazaq urged party leaders and members to be peaceful and conduct themselves in a way that would portray the party in good light.
The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by all the aspirants for the governorship primaries: Governor Gboyega Oyetola; Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (Shehu); and former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Lasun Yusuf.
Members of the Osun State Governorship Primaries are: Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Chairman); Senator Julius Ucha (Secretary); Sen. Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe; Hon. Abdulkarim Abdulrahman; Hon. Wale Raji; Chief Mrs Yetunde Imolehin; and Mr Ofonmbuk Okon Bassy.
“I want to say that we have been sent from the national headquarters of our party to conduct the governorship primaries. We shall be fair to all aspirants. And fairness, indeed, is the keyword here,” AbdulRazaq said.
“We urge our members to come out en masse to vote for the aspirant of their choice. We seek the understanding of all our party leaders and members to be peaceful. Let us not do anything that will put our great party to disrepute.”
Governor Oyetola, for his part, said: “It is a family affair and I trust that the calibre of the committee’s members and the chairman and Governor of Kwara State will ensure that it is free and fair. (Option A4) is an exercise not new to us. We have gone through it before and I believe we will have a peaceful, free and fair tomorrow.
“I appeal to all our members and supporters to please ensure peace. I want to urge all our supporters that it is not a battleground.”
Alhaji Adeoti, who also commended the committee members, requested to have a copy of the guidelines as well as the party membership register.
The committee openly displayed the membership register to be used for the exercise.
Adeoti, wanting to ascertain the genuineness of the document, checked the register for Ilesa East and affirmed its correctness.
Senate spokesman Bashir Ajibola (Osun Central) said: “I want to urge all of us gladiators who have used the platform of our party to achieve a lot should not, out of our personal ambitions, jeopardise the interest of our great party and other members.”
The primaries shall be done through Open Secret Ballot System, the committee said, urging aspirants and their supporters to abide by the guidelines of the primaries.
The committee also said candidates may have their posters displayed at the venue but shall not canvass for votes there, among other regulations.
