Tuesday, June 6, 2017

INEC fixes July 8 for by-election to replace Adeleke



Femi Makinde, Osogbo
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled July 8 for the conduct of the by-election to fill the Osun-West senatorial district’s vacant seat at the upper legislative chamber.
This was contained in a notice dated Monday, June 5, 2017 and signed by the Administrative Secretary of INEC in Osun State, Mr E. A. Ademusire.
The notice read, “Consequent upon the provisions of the enabling statutes that a by-election to fill the declared vacant seat by the National Assembly be conducted within 30 days upon the declaration, take notice that by the directives of the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, a by-election for the Osun-West senatorial seat will hold on Saturday, July 8, 2017.”
The notice came just as politicians from various political parties also intensified preparations ahead of the election.
A former governorship aspirant on the platform of the Labour Party, Mr Wale Alakinde, has announced that he is interested in the race to pick the PDP ticket for the senatorial district.
Alakinde, while speaking at a press conference, said he was being pushed forward by the Ede community where Adeleke hailed from to continue the liberation struggle from where Adeleke stopped.
He hailed Adeleke’s performance and his leadership style, adding that like Adeleke, he would also help his constituents apart from performing his legislative duties effectively.
The former governorship aspirant, who is also a chartered accountant, said the Adeleke family was not interested in allowing any of the deceased’s siblings to contest the by-election despite the entreaties by the All Progressives Congress.
He said, “I want to contest the Osun-West senatorial district by-election, which has been tentatively scheduled to hold on July 8. I am not a new entrant in politics and I am confident of winning the race.
“I am in the race to deliver Osun people from the shackles of the APC government. That was what Senator Isiaka Adeleke was doing before his mysterious death and my people believe that somebody must take over the mantle from the late senator. I am being pushed forward by the Ede community.
“The Adeleke family is not interested in sending any of their family members to contest despite the pleas from the APC. His death was a mysterious one. What is two years at the senate compared to the life of their brother?”
Alakinde, who belongs to the Soji Adagunodo-led PDP in the state, said the crisis rocking the party would not have any negative impact on his aspiration, saying the two factions would unite to support a candidate during the election.
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