THE race to Thursday re-run governorship election in Osun State is becoming interesting as the Ekiti State governor-elect, Kayode Fayemi, on Tuesday led some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the residence of Iyiola Omisore, Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in the last governorship election.
This followed a visit by the Senate President Bukola Saraki who was at the residence of the politician on Monday to woo him ahead of the rerun.
Omisore controls votes coming from Ife and his support for either the APC or PDP candidate is crucial to their success in the re-run.
The rerun will hold in seven polling units across four local government areas — Orolu, Ife north, Ife south and Osogbo.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Saturday’s election inconclusive.
Ademola Adeleke of the PDP had polled 254,699, while his closest challenger, Isiaka Oyetola of the APC had 254,345 votes.
With 128,049 votes, Omisore placed a distant third.
Although all the 48 political parties will partake in the exercise, the contest is between Adeleke and Oyetola.
While receiving Saraki on Monday, Omisore listed the conditions under which he would work for any of the two leading parties.
“I have given my programmes to both the APC and the PDP. My programme is like this; payment of salaries and pensions. Good governance is what is important to me,” he had told reporters after the meeting.
“Anyone between the two that will do that will get my support. I am passionate about Osun State and my interest is the welfare of the people of this state. I have told those sent to me. At the appropriate time, we will tell you where we are going.”