Osun 2018: Olugbenga Akintola emerges as AD governorship candidate

THE Alliance for Democracy (AD), Osun State chapter has declared Mr Olugbenga Akintola as its flag bearer for September 22 governorship poll after the conduct of a re-run of its primary election exercise held in Osogbo, the state capital.

This is coming against the backdrop of the inconclusive primary election hitherto held at the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State council, Osogbo on June 25, where Olugbenga Akintola polled 46 votes, while Hon Femi Kehinde got 37 votes, just as two votes were voided.

However, at the rerun of the primary, election conducted inside the premises of a hotel, Akintola was overwhelmingly affirmed as the governorship candidate of AD, in an exercise conducted by the AD national delegate, Hon Babatunde Tijani.

Announcing the results of the exercise, Tijjani maintained that “with the validation of the June 25 primary elections; on behalf of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and the national chairman, AD national secretary, Pastor Akin Fashogbon declared Olugbenga Akintola as the governorship candidate.

ALSO READ: See list of 13 APC senators who decamped to PDP

Delivering his acceptance speech, Akintola urged AD members to join hands in strengthening the party, just as he implored all party members and stakeholders, including the masses in Osun State to provide effective support in ensuring the victory for the party during the September 22 governorship election.

He stated that “we need to set aside our differences in the interest of the peaceful citizens in Osun State. AD is alive and determined to work for victory on September 22.”

Meanwhile, Hon Femi Kehinde, a former member, House of Representatives, who represented Iwo Federal Constituency between 1999 and 2003 has been adopted as the standard bearer of the All Grassroot Alliance (AGA) ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Osun.

Speaking during an interview with Tribune Online in Osogbo at the party secretariat of AGA located around Olaiya area, shortly after his adoption, Kehinde expressed optimism of putting up an impressive performance at the poll, recalling that he had planned to bring his former party, AD back to electoral succes before exiting the party.