***Tinubu assures indigenes of adequate security ***15 candidates battle for 1.9m votes By Clifford Ndujihe, Dapo Akinrefon, Henry Umoru & Shina Abubakar OSOGBO — AFTER rounding off their campaigns, yesterday, 15 standard bearers are primed for tomorrow’s governorship election in Osun State. Amid a cloud of tension unfurled by violence and killings that heralded the campaigns, President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, assured people of the state adequate security during and after polls and urged them to troop out en masse to exercise their franchise. No fewer than 1.9m of 2,339,233 registered voters who collected PVCs across 30 local government areas, 323 wards, and 3,763 polling units are expected to decide the fate of candidates led by Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord seeking re-election, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, APC; and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress, ADC. Factors such as influence of critical stakeholders and leaders, popularity, performance, incumbency, federal might and track record among others are expected to shape the outcome of the balloting. Meanwhile, fresh violence erupted in Ijesaland, yesterday, as some suspected political hoodlums stormed Esa-Oke, and shot two members of the APC. The victims are Oladele Ayegbo and Taiwo Oluwatobi. They however, said that the attack happened on Wednesday as security agencies embarked on show force in the state in readiness for the election. Already15,000 policemen, 31 Commissioners of Police, helicopters, and drones have been deployed. Disturbed by the circle of violence, the Amnesty International Nigeria has vowed to make Senator Francis Fadahunsi an example in its campaign against impunity and inflammatory rhetoric by politicians, following remarks attributed to him in a viral video ahead of the poll. Also, former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd), has called for decisive action, including arrest against politicians and other prominent Nigerians who make inciting statements capable of triggering violence and disrupting the peace of the country. Tinubu’s assurance Ahead of the poll, President Tinubu has assured the people of adequate security during and after the exercise. Tinubu gave the promise during the grand finale of the governorship campaign of the APC held in Osogbo, the Osun State capital yesterday to formally present its candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, for the Saturday election. Represented by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu said: “Let me assure all Osun indigenes that adequate security has been provided all over the state to ensure people come out to cast their votes for the candidate of their choice without any fear or intimidation. Feel very free to cast your votes for the candidate of your choice.” The candidates, their strengths, weaknesses With less than two days to the governorship election in Osun State and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, confirming that 2,339, 233 residents registered to participate in the polls, candidates and political parties are rounding up campaigns and intensifying moves to warm themselves into the hearts of the people with a view to winning their support to emerge as the next governor of the state. Of the 15 political parties and their candidates listed by INEC for the August 15 governorship polls, the most visible candidates have presented their manifestoes, gone beyond consultation and round up campaigns across the local government areas. Candidates and their parties Candidates in the race include Governor Ademola Adeleke (Accord party), Farinloye Olanrewaju (Action Alliance), Esan Olajide (African Action Congress, AAC); Najeem Salaam (ADC); Adeagbo Opawoye (African Democratic Party, ADP), Mustapha Adeniyi, Social Democratic Party, (SDP) and Bola Oyebamiji ( APC). Others are Adesina Aseyemi-Doro (All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA); Adewale Adebayo (Allied People Movement, APM); Clement Adesuyi (Action Peoples Party, APP); Masilo Adeleke (Boot Party); Taofeek Adeleke (New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP); Saliu Oyelami (Peoples Redemption Party, PRP), Ogunsakin Olalekan (Young Progressives Party, YPP) and Adefemi Adesuyi (Zenith Labour Party, ZLP). Out of the 15 candidates, three have emerged as front-runners of which Governor Adeleke hinged his re-election campaign on his five-point agenda reloaded. Mr Bola Oyebamiji of APC, tagged his manifesto as ‘Prosperity agenda’ and Najeem Salaam of the ADC launched a 10-point agenda. Adeleke’s prospects Apart from being the incumbent governor, he also enjoys acceptability among the majority of civil servants and the leadership of the labour unions. The NLC, TUC and JNC are all on his side and appeared in the Accord party campaigns soliciting support for the gove
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