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The battle ground for the governorship seat in 2019 is getting set with the emergence of two top candidates from the rulng All Peogressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Both parties in Oyo state had their governorship primaries on Sunday.
While Seyi Makinde emerged for the PDP, Adebayo Adelabu emerged for the APC.
The governorship battle may however be a three horse race between the top parties in the state, with the African Democratic Congress getting set to present its candidate on Thursday. The status of other parties including Labour Party, Accord, Kowa, Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Action Democratic Party (ADP) is not yet clear.
Five APC aspirants stepped down for Adelabu to emerge almost unopposed. The aspirants who stepped down as the primaries went underway were Dr. Babalola Owolabi, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe and Olusola Ayandele.
Niyi Akintola (SAN) was the last to step down, a decision he took reluctantly. Announcing his withdrawal from the race at the venue, Akintola said: “I feel cheated”
“I have not really benefitted anything from my struggle. I am taking this decision against the wish of my immediate family. I have listened to the advice of our party leaders, especially Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I feel cheated and I hereby announce my exit from Oyo State party politics.”
Former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, who is among the aspirants, boycotted the exercise. His agents were however cited at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, where the primary election held.
At the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Makinde emerged after fellow aspirant, Ayo Adeseun abandoned the process, claiming that the delegates lost had been doctored.