The Oke Ogun Development Consultative Forum (ODCF) has adopted an indigene of Oke-Ogun, Dr David Okunlola of the All Grassroots Alliance (AGA) as its governorship candidate in the 2019 election.
The union also also endorsed Barr. Bayo Lawal of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its senatorial candidate for Oyo North Senatorial district which has 10 of the 13 local governments in the district are in Oke-Ogun.
The senator currently representing the district is Sen. Fatai Buhari, who hails from Ogbomoso. Okunlola is from Saki while Lawal is from Kisi.
The endorsements were done at the weekend during a meeting of the ODCF in Ago-Are in ATISBO Local Government Area of the state.
In the build up to the party primaries, the ODCF is the umbrella body for all associations and clubs in Oke Ogun, had urged the major parties in the Oyo state, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to choose their governorship candidates from the zone in order to enjoy the support of the people of the area.
The APC and PDP however ended up choosing Ibadan indigenes as their candidates. While APC chose Adebayo Adelabu, the PDP chose Seyi Makinde.
While announcing the endorsements, the ODCF president, Dr Olusegun Ajuwon, said that Okunlola was adopted as Oke Ogun candidate after a thorough assessment of all Oke-Ogun candidates who have secured the tickets of their respective political parties to contest for the next year election.
The Aare of Ago-Are, Oba Bodunrin Koforola Olakanla, represented traditional rulers at the meeting.
Politicians, including candidates and aspirants as well as representatives of clubs and associations were also at the meeting.
Ajuwon said that they were not daunted by the failure of any major political parties to give their tickets to Oke Ogun indigenes.
Okunlola is a lecturer at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso while Bayo Lawal who is a lawyer, had been Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General in Oyo State.
