The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the list of the 20 political parties and governorship candidates that will be contesting in the August 9 governorship election in Osun State.
According to INEC, the parties and their candidates to be listed in the ballot papers during the election include: Action Alliance - Babatunde Oralusi (Governor), Hon. Adekunle Rufai (Deputy); Accord Party – Niyi Owolade (Governor), Opawuyi Bolaji Abdulganiyu (Deputy); ACPN – Olufemi Adeleke Hammed (Governor), Famiran Lawrence Olusola (Deputy); Action for Democracy - Senator Sunday Olawale Fajimi (Governor), Ogundele Kamarudeen Adeyemi (Deputy); African Democratic Congress – Comrade Ojo Gbenga Gabriel (Governor), Comrade Adebiyi Adedayo Segun (Deputy); All Progressive Alliance -Agboola Azeez Obasanjo (Governor), Oseni Kazeem Adebisi (Deputy); All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) – Akintunde Adebimpe Adetunji (Governor), Oladitan Olabode Joseph (Deputy); and All Progressives Congress (APC) – Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola (Governor), Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori (Deputy).
Others include: Citizen Popular Party – Alhaji Rafio Shehu Anifowose A. (Governor), Raji Sofiyat Bodemi (Deputy); Labour Party – Akinbade Fatai Akinade (Governor), Adenipekun Michael Isola Tunde (Deputy); MPPP – Chief Babatunde Adetoro (Governor), Faremi Raphael (Deputy); NCP – Afolayanka Olanrewaju Jimoh (Governor), Akinlabi Babatope Sunday (Deputy); NNPP – Prince Adefare Segun Adegoke (Governor), Mrs. Adebowale A. Mujidat (Deputy); Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) – Oludare Timothy Akinola (Governor), Wayilat Titilade Adeleye (Deputy).
Also listed for the election are Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – Senator Iyiola Omisore (Governor), Rafiu Adejare Bello (Deputy); PPA – Ganiyu Abiodun Lawal (Governor), Mrs. Grace Mabayoje Ojofakuade (Deputy); UDP – Funso Toyin Bunmi (Governor), Phillip Samuel (Deputy); UPN – Adeoti Ibrahim Abiodun (Governor), Salokun Folasade Bukola (Deputy); UPP – Prince Victor Olusegun Adeniyi (Governor), Mrs. Christiana Oluwatoyin (Deputy); and SDP – Akinwusi Olusegun (Governor), Alhaja Rashidat Taiwo Olaigbe (Deputy).
The statement from INEC said Osun State has 30 local government areas and 332 registration areas. The state also has 3,010 polling units and 3379 voting points.
INEC, the statement said, has accredited 29 local and foreign observers to monitor the election.
They are: Centre for Civic Education (aka: Transition Monitoring Group, TMG), Justice and Equity Organisation, NEPAD, Nigeria Reclaim, Naija Centre for Democracy and Development, Centre for Peace Building and Socio-Economic Resources Development, Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room (Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre), Nigeria Bar Association, Election Working Group, National Association for Peaceful Election in Nigeria, Independent Election Monitoring Group, Rights Monitoring Group, Election Monitor, Police Service Commission, Abuja, CLEEN Foundation, and Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolutions.
Other observers are Research Initiative for Sustainable Development and Gender Awareness (RISDGA), Justice Development and Peace Commission, The Forum of State Independent Commission of Nigeria (FOSIECON), Women Arise for Change Initiative (20), EU Delegation-Abuja, International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) and United States Mission to Nigeria.
Also on the list are: the High Commission of Canada, British High Commission, UNDP/DGD-Abuja, Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands, Embassy of Switzerland, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Embassy of France.
Addressing media professionals recently, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said the commission was determined to make the Osun governorship election better than that of Ekiti which it conducted last June.
He said it was the hope of the commission that the Osun governorship election would serve as a fitting prelude to the 2015 general election which would be the best conducted under the commission’s watch.