I recently read a petition signed by some APC executives in Yagba West local government against Yemisi Oshaloto, the APC’s leading aspirant for Kogi state house of assembly, Yagba West constituency, accusing the chairman of Yagba West local government, Pius Kolawole, and Hon. Sunday Karimi of attempting to impose her on the party.
First and foremost, it is preposterous that some unscrupulous elements are calling her an unpopular candidate. You called someone who has been giving her opponents sleepless nights an unpopular candidate? It is factual to say that Yemisi is a political heavyweight. The reason why her opponents have been “running kiti kiti and running kata kata”.
Yemisi is the most popular candidate out of all the aspirants. She is not only popular in Yagba West local government; her popularity cuts across the 21 local governments in Kogi state.
These petitioners claim that it is the turn of the Odo-Eri ward to produce the next state house of assembly member. I would like to point out that the only zoning agreement that has been implemented is the gentleman zoning arrangement between the area council and the town council. The current house of assembly member representing Yagba West at the state house of assembly, Hon. Aderonke Aro, is from the town council, so it is the turn of the area council to produce the next member of the state house of assembly. Regardless of the town/ward, anybody who is from the area council has the right to contest.
The petitioners also claimed that the main opposition party, the PDP, zoned the seat to Odo-Eri due to zoning arrangements. While I do not wish to meddle in the affairs of another political party, I would like to state for the sake of clarity that the PDP gave its ticket to Sunday Maiyaki through the influence of Samuel Aro in an attempt to settle their feud and also as a consolation to the people of Odo-eri because it was widely believed that he (Aro) denied them the opportunity to produce a member of the state house of assembly in 2007. It has nothing to do with zoning at all.
The petitioners failed to mention that there are several candidates from the area council vying for this position. Hon. Kuli of the ADC is from Ogbe ward, and Olumayegun Ayo of the ADC is from Odo-Ere/Akata ward, to name a few.
It is even more surprising to learn that those who have only recently joined the party and are only running because they believe it is their community’s turn are talking about imposition. Yemisi has been an active member of the APC for many years. She has spent her time and resources on the party over the years. She didn’t just join the party to contest an election. She has worked tirelessly for the party and is the most qualified of the aspirants.
While Yemisi Oshaloto is busy consulting people and soliciting for support from delegates, her fearful opponents are funding people to write petty propaganda and petitions against her without any solidified backup to justify their claims.
No matter how hard they try to discredit her candidature, Yemisi will win the primary election and will proceed to win the general election.
By a concerned indigene of Yagba West local government.