Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior, has urged members of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State to conduct themselves peacefully as the party chooses its governorship candidate today.
Governor Gboyega Oyetola, former Secretary to State Government Moshood Adeoti, and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Lasun Yusuf are vying for the lone ticket at stake in today’s contest.
Aregbesola, who has publicly backed Adeoti against the current governor, has urged his supporters not to be frightened and to vote in the election, which Adeoti has stated will not be free and fair.
The minister, who had sworn to ensure that the incumbent governor did not win the party’s nomination, stated this in a statement that he personally signed and sent on Saturday.
He did, however, task them with abstaining from all forms of violence, brigandage, and disorderliness.
He said, “This electoral cycle is a two-staged process. The first is intra-party, meaning that our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), will democratically nominate its candidate. The second stage, inter-party, will take place in a state-wide election sometime in July, God willing.
“I am appealing to all our party members to participate but peacefully in the primary election taking place today. They should avoid any form of violence, brigandage and disorderliness.
“Our party members, especially our supporters, should be resolute to cast their vote, not to be intimidated and scared away. But they should portray themselves and the party in the best form in comportment, organisation and promotion of societal peace and tranquillity.
“I am also appealing to our members to push out the women and let them lead the process by coming out decently and peacefully.
” This is to demonstrate the customary dignity of women as matriarchs, mothers, wives and daughters, which confers on them the special protection status from violent attacks from thugs and hoodlums.
Our overall objective is to have a transparent, free, fair and peaceful election.
“You should know that we are first a community of humans before we are a political community. Our peaceful coexistence, therefore, supersedes every other activity.”
