APC wins in Aregbesola’s polling unit during Osun election

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won at the polling unit of former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the governorship election held on Saturday.

Aregbesola, who left the APC last year, is now a leader and the national secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

At PU001, Coop. Building Junction, Isare, Ward 08 in Ilesa East Local Government Area, Aregbesola cast his vote. The APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, got 256 votes to take the lead.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party came second with 43 votes, while ADC’s candidate Najeem Salaam finished third with 13 votes.

This result is a tough start for the ADC. Najeem Salaam, backed by Aregbesola, is one of the party's key figures in Osun.

Aregbesola voted in his hometown, Ilesa, where he was governor from 2010 to 2018.

The ADC faced another defeat at a nearby polling unit. At PU007, Elegant D.C. (Agbon Arugbo), Isare, Ward 08 in Ilesa East LGA, the APC received 202 votes. The Accord Party had 110 votes, while the ADC got just 12 votes.

These results from both polling units could be important for the ADC, which aims to be a strong alternative to the major parties in the election.

Incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, is looking to be re-elected.

Many people in Osun State see the ADC as a third option. This is largely due to Aregbesola's influence. He was governor from 2010 to 2018, first with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and later with the APC, which he helped to create in 2013.

Aregbesola is a key political figure in Osun State. After two terms as governor, he became Minister of Interior with the APC before joining the ADC. He is now the National Secretary for the faction led by former Senate President David Mark.