Erstwhile Senator, Ademola Adeleke has been declared winner of the governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State.
By Emma Ogbuehi
He emerged victorious in a PDP primary, held at the 10,000 capacity Oshogbo stadium on Tuesday, March 8.
The primary election held amid allegation of bias and litigations which could have stalled the process.
At a time, the former senator was alleged to have walked out of a meeting called to resolve issues among the contestants. About six contestants had angled for the PDP ticket, including Ademola Adeleke’s cousin, Dele Adeleke. The PDP had called a meeting to ensure that the primaries of the party scheduled in the coming weeks are rancour-free.
The meeting was hosted by a former Governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
After the meeting, there were reports that Ademola Adeleke, stormed out of the venue in anger. He said the allegation that he stormed out of the peace meeting when he was feeling uncomfortable with the direction of the meeting was untrue
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Adeleke however said that he only left the meeting to attend to an urgent family matter.
In a statement by his Campaign Organisation, he said that he accepted the resolutions made at the meeting.
According to him, the meeting was fruitful with commendable resolutions and conclusions.
“I commend our leaders for the successful outcomes of the meeting. I associate myself with the resolutions reached.
“PDP is now one big united family in Osun State. I accepted the resolutions reached, though I left afterwards to attend to urgent family matters.
“We urge PDP members to sustain the peace efforts and avoid spreading rumours that may derail the successful conclusion of the ongoing reconciliation moves,” Adeleke said.
Others that ran for the PDP ticket included; Alhaji Fatai Akinbade; Dr Akin Ogunbiyi; Sen. Ademola Adeleke; Mr Sanya Omirin; Mr Dele Adeleke and Mr Dotun Babayemi.
The governorship election is scheduled to hold on July 16.
This is the second time Adeleke would be emerging the governorship candidate of the party in the state.
He was the PDP flagbearer in 2018 when he lost to incumbent Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Adeleke was leading in the ballot till some issues crept up necessitating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to call for a supplementary election in areas where the poll was declared inconclusive.
Adeleke lost to Oyetola in the final round with 400 votes. His efforts at obtaining victory through the courts, did not yield fruits.
Before his foray into the governorship race, he had briefly been in the senate – seat he won in a bye-election to fill the slot left vacant following the death of his elder brother, Isiaka Adeleke.
The senator is popular among his supporters for his untiring dance steps.