TheCable

Rasaq Sanisile, factional chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, says the “selfish interests” of Gboyega Oyetola, governor of the state, caused the party to lose the governorship election.

Sanisile is a member of the faction loyal to Rauf Aregbesola, minister of interior.

Ademola Adeleke, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was declared winner of the Osun governorship election which held on July 16.

Adeleke secured 403,371 votes to defeat his closest contender, Gboyega Oyetola of the APC, who polled 375,027 votes.

Speaking on Wednesday at a media briefing in Osogbo, the Osun capital, Sanisile said “selfish interests and crass ignorance” by Oyetola and Gboyega Famodun, APC chairman recognised by the national working committee (NWC) of the party, made the party lose the election.

“We note with foreboding a sense of great loss, that it was an avoidable electoral defeat if issues affecting the party, which we, as a set of discerning politicians, had brought to public attention about two years ago, had been handled differently,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“Our early warning was met with strident attempts at stifling our voice and muzzle us if necessary. We had foretold the clear degeneration and weak position of Osun APC and had offered a seven-point agenda by which the party could be turned around and re-energised for greater efficiency and result oriented.

“Oyetola, Prince Gboyega Famodun, the APC chairman and the entire Ilerioluwa caucus of the APC simply delivered victory to the opposition by their obvious lack of party management, understanding, crass ignorance, unabashed protection of selfish interests, exhibition of huge ego, and so on.

“They clearly deviated from the best practices in politicking, party administration, governance and democracy.”