Osun 2018: APC Members Protest In Osun, Clamour For Zoning Governorship Ticket

Agency ReporterJuly 6, 2018

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Some members of All Progressives Congress ( APC ) under the aegis of Osun Continuity Movement on Friday in Oshogbo staged a peaceful protest in Osogbo over zoning of the governorship ticket.

Students, traders, and artisans hit the streets of Osogbo, the Osun State capital to protest the alleged marginalisation of Osun West Senatorial District ahead of the governorship election on September 22.

The protesters numbering hundreds gathered at the popular Freedom Park in Osogbo as early as 8am, armed with banners and placards with various inscriptions that the senatorial district had not produced a governor in the state since the nation returned to democratic rule in 1999.

They argued that while the Osun Central Senatorial District had occupied the governorship seat of the state for over 11 years and the Osun East Senatorial District would have occupied it for eight years at the expiration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s tenure, the Osun West remained the only senatorial district that had yet to occupy the seat.

The protesters said they were ready to massively support any political party that fields a governorship candidate from Osun West, saying any party that fields candidate from other senatorial districts apart from Osun West would suffer electoral defeat.

The News men report that the group insisted that APC must zone the Sept. 22 governorship election ticket to Osun West Senatorial District in the state.

The spokesman for the group, Mr. Miftah Saheed, told journalists that for the sake of fairness, equity, and justice, the zone should be allowed to produce the next governor.

According to Saheed, going by the history of governance in the state, Osun Central had governed the state for more than 11 years, while Osun East spent eight years in governance.

He said that Osun West Senatorial District spent only 22 months in governing the state.

“It is worthy of note that Osun West Senatorial District remains the only zone that had not produced a governor since the return of democratic rule in 1999.

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“The zone must be supported to produce the next governor. We have a competent candidate that can do the job,’’ Saheed said.

He said that if APC failed to pick its candidate from the west, any other political party that picked its candidate from the west would be supported by the people of the zone.

As a result of the agitation, the party’s primary slated for Saturday had been postponed.

The party members, who carried placards with various inscriptions, marched from Freedom Park to the party’s secretariat.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: “No cheating’’, “West is okay’’, “We must encourage equal political stability’’, “Rotational leadership’’, “Affirmation Action’’, among others.

The newsmen reports that 29 aspirants on the platform of APC had so far expressed their intention to contest the party’s primary ahead of the gubernatorial election.

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