Senior Correspondent, VICTOR EBIMOMI, takes a look at the emergence of Ayo Fayose and Iyiola Omisore as PDP candidates in Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, weighing their chances against Governors Kayode Fayemi and Rauf Aregbesola
Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi
Ekiti and Osun states are set to witness epic political battles in the months ahead. On June 21, the electorate in Ekiti will go to the poll to elect their next governor, while in Osun, a similar exercise will take place on August 9. Expectedly, interested political parties have already picked their candidates for the exalted seats.
The incumbents, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, have already got the endorsement of their party, All Progressives Congress (APC), for the encounter. Interestingly, both are seeking re-election.
In Ekiti, eyes are particularly on APC and the PDP. Labour Party (LP) candidate, Opeyemi Bamidele, a member of the House of Representatives is, however, not a push-over, given that he also commands a significant following.
In going for the race, the PDP in Ekiti has settled for Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of the state, to fly its flag. It has also picked Iyiola Omisore for the race in Osun. Omisore is not new to Osun politics. At the onset of the current dispensation, he was deputy to the then Governor Adebisi Akande, currently APC interim national chairman. Omisore was, until the 2011 election, a senator of the Federal Republic.
Following the emergence of the two old war horses as flag-bearers of their party in the two states, there have been permutations on the outcome of the elections in the states.
What is essentially taken into consideration is their pedigree in their various states. Fayose, for instance, is seen as a grassroots man, who is always at home with the ordinary Ekiti man.
“Fayose can win in Ekiti State because he is a very popular and likeable person in the state,” an indigene of Iyin-Ekiti, who gave his name as Bolaji, said with air of finality.
TheNiche even learnt that on Fayose’s emergence as PDP flag-bearer on March 24, the state chapter of APC subtly acknowledged that a formidable battle lies ahead.
In fact, the governor was reported to have been the first to raise alarm that the PDP, particularly the presidency, threw up Fayose to rig the election in its favour.
“Masterminding the emergency of former Governor Ayo Fayose as the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ekiti State shows clearly that the Jonathan presidency has no strategy other than violence for June 21 governorship election in the state,” Fayemi reportedly said through his campaign organisation spokesman, Dimeji Daniels.
Unlike Fayemi, who easily picked his party’s ticket, Fayose emerged through a keenly contested primary, beating 14 other contenders and garnering 462 votes, a feat analysts say is a confirmation that he still has powerful political clout in the state.
It is also argued that despite the controversy that trailed his tenure as governor, he was adjudged by many to have performed considerably well in the infrastructural transformation of the state, when compared to his predecessors.
Observers also believe that Fayose might have been put forward for the election by his party in the belief that he cannot be easily intimidated by the incumbency factor currently being enjoyed by Fayemi, since he had once occupied the position and thus understands most of the political manoeuvrings and intrigues that the office can play before and during the election.
Despite what appears to be the stream of goodwill flowing in his direction, the governor’s camp is said to be convinced that Fayose could easily be beaten at the polls. This conviction receives boost from the fact that the former governor was trounced by an APC candidate, Babafemi Ojudu, in his attempt for the Senate in 2011.
A major card that Fayemi is said to be flaunting as the election draws near is his record of people-oriented service which, his supporters say, cuts across all the councils in the state. His unusual disposition to the elderly and the most vulnerable in the state through the welfare scheme of his administration also counts in his favour, TheNiche learnt. “Victory is on his side. I have no doubt that he will make it. His good works will speak for him,” enthused one of his admirers who preferred anonymity.
Omisore’s emergence as PDP flag-bearer in Osun, it was gathered, has continued to elicit excitement among the party faithful.
It is strongly believed that he understands the political terrain and the inherent intrigues in the state.
The former lawmaker, for instance, has an uncommon record of winning an election into the Senate in 2003 while in detention over his alleged involvement in the murder of former Attorney-General, Bola Ige.
However, APC leadership in the state dismissed his emergence as no threat to the party in the election, posting Aregbesola’s endorsement by the party as testimony that he is the man to beat in the election.
Perceived in some quarters as controversial, largely on account of some of his policy initiatives, the Osun governor is, however, credited with repositioning the state in terms of infrastructure and human capital development engagements. His effort in the state’s education system is easily brandished by his foot soldiers as enough consideration for giving him another term.
Aregbesola, who had once served as commissioner in Lagos State, is also said to have impacted on Osun in other areas including agriculture, health and tourism, among others.
“He is our man any day. One good turn deserves another. He has delivered on his mandate. It is our turn to reward him. He will win again,” volunteered Sheriffat Muyibi, who acknowledged benefiting from his administration’s youth empowerment scheme – Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES).
Omisore, known for not easily going down in a battle, has, however, promised a good fight against the governor, stressing that he could as well boast of solid support base from the people of Osun.
Political observers are in agreement that although Fayemi and Aregbesola have relatively tried within the short period they are in power, that with the two states known to have changed hands between PDP and APC precursors since 1999, it may be too early to dismiss any of the incumbents or the veterans.