A source very close to Omisore told SaharaReporters: “You know he was formerly in PDP but he was pushed out; PDP has 'done him bad' in a way, so literally he is not that interested in them. But, at the same time, if they are ready to dance to his tune, which is that they should adopt his manifesto, then something can be worked out.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) is likely to win its tussle with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the support of Iyiola Omisore ahead of Thursday’s Osun State governorship election rerun, SaharaReporters can report.
Since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Saturday’s election inconclusive and announced a rerun would be held, leaders of the two major parties have turned Omisore’s home in Osogbo to a Mecca of sorts, visiting him in an attempt to convince him to move his followers to their camp — a decision that will all but determine the next Governor of the state.
SaharaReporters had reported on Tuesday that the APC was set to offer Omisore a ministerial position; but much more than that offer, APC has an edge because PDP is negotiating with him from a position of disadvantage.[story_link align="left"]63262[/story_link]
Reason? Omisore understands PDP would never have come to him had Ademola Adeleke, its candidate in the election, won outright. And, of bigger consequence, Omisore reckons he would have been Governor-Elect by now had PDP bigwigs not schemed him out of the party’s governorship ticket in favour of Adeleke. Still, Omisore, candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SD) in the election, hasn’t entirely closed the door on PDP.
A source very close to him told SaharaReporters: “You know he was formerly in PDP but he was pushed out; PDP has 'done him bad' in a way, so literally he is not that interested in them. But, at the same time, if they are ready to dance to his tune, which is that they should adopt his manifesto, then something can be worked out.
“Look at it this way, what if PDP had won outright? Would they have come back to him? If not because this ticket was given to Adeleke, Omisore would have been Governor-Elect by now. Look at his record; look at what he polled in the election. He built that party in less than four months.[story_link align="left"]63277[/story_link]
“But the PDP bigwigs don’t want him — because he is a man of his own. They wanted a stooge that they could boss around, but Omisoe is self-independent even though he still respects the voice of others. I think they just fear his personality. If he got the ticket he would have won, because Adeleke is no match for him. You know, Adeleke is just there to take advantage of what has happened; he is not a politician in that sense.”
Despite APC’s advantage over PDP, there would be no progress in the conversations if Omisore’s manifesto is not taken into account, the source insists.
“His manifesto is very paramount; it is actually the key in the discussions. You know he has a robust manifesto… he has plans for civil servants, the pensioners, human capital development, health, road network… he has plans for all these things; his manifesto is very rich. He needs a party, whether APC or PDP, that would adopt his programme,” he said.[story_link align="left"]63299[/story_link]
“So, his concern is the people whom he represents. If ultimately he settles for a party that will not implement those things, it is a betrayal of the people.”
In the last 48 hours, the APC/PDP bigwigs to have visited Omisore include Atiku Abubakar, presidential aspirant and former Vice President; Bukola Saraki, presidential aspirant and Senate President; Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State Governor-Elect and former mInister of SOlid Minerals Development; and Abiodun Olujimi, the sentaor representing Ekiti South at the National Assembly.