Ridwan Kolawole, Ibadan.
Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has emerged the All Progressives Congress candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District in the just concluded primary election of the party.
The election was conducted by the Chief Ademola Seriki-led electoral panel.
Governor Ajimobi had 2,659 votes to defeat Dr. Fola Akinosun who scored 168 votes, to seek a return to the Red Chamber, where he represented the state between 2003 and 2007 under the platform of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD).
Announcing the result on Wednesday, Seriki said that the exercise, which started around 6:30pm on Tuesday was delayed due the late arrival of voting materials from the national headquarters of the party in Abuja.
The Oyo South senatorial district spans nine local government areas, which are Ibarapa North, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa Central, Ido, Ibadan North, Ibadan South-East, Ibadan South-West, Ibadan North-East and Ibadan North-West.
Addressing journalists after being declared the winner, the governor applauded the electoral committee for what he called the hitch-free and smooth conduct of the exercise, despite the earlier delay.
Ajimobi said, “I look forward to going back to the Red Chamber to contribute my quota to the national debate and the progress of the nation. I wish to bring to fore my parliamentary experience to grow a Nigeria that the next generation will be proud of.
“The process has just started today (yesterday) with my emergence as the candidate of our great party. The people of Oyo South Senatorial district should expect greater performance from me at the Senate, which will even surpass my unprecedented achievements as governor by the grace of God.
Dr Akinosun who was present at the beginning of the exercise left the venue for undisclosed reasons before the final collation of the results from the nine LGs.
He had earlier promised to abide by the results of the primary on the condition that it was free and fair, adding that he decided to throw his hat into the ring as a free citizen and qualified member of the APC, irrespective of the stature of his co-contestant.
Akinosun added, “This election is not about life. It is about representation and should not be by force. I promise to accept the outcome of the polls and that is if the due diligence is done. We are in the same party and we shall not allow internal election to create crisis in our party.”
Also addressing delegates after announcing the results, Seriki described the exercise as another successful primary that the committee had conducted, having also taken charge of the governorship primary that produced Chief Adebayo Adelabu, on Sunday.
