Labour Party, APC Reach Agreement On Voting Pattern In Ogun

ABEOKUTA - Barely 24 hours to the commencement of the Presidential election, the Ogun State chapter of Labour Party and the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) have agreed to work together for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari at the poll on Saturday. 

The parties also agreed to work together for the success of APC House of Representatives candidate for Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi/Owode federal constituency in the state, Hon. Olumide Osoba.

THE ENCOUNTER reliably gathered that, at a meeting summoned by the Deputy Director-General of Dapo Abiodun Campaign Organization, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade held on Thursday at the residence of Chief Bode Mustapha in Abeokuta, the state chapter of Labour Party also agreed to vote for the APC governorship candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun on the March 2.

In a telephone interview, the Labour Party Chairman, Chief Abayomi Arabambi confirmed that, the two parties have reached an accord to work together at the poll on Saturday. 

Arabambi said the meeting became imperative following the exclusion of his party from fielding governorship candidate for the forthcoming election in Ogun State. 

He said, his party equally agreed to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday and Hon. Olumide Osoba since his party does not has candidates in the two positions. 

The Labour Party Chairman however explained that, the APC leadership in the state have also consented to direct its members to vote for the Ogun Central Senatorial Candidate of Labour Party, Hon. Sabur Aroyewun and the Abeokuta South House of Representatives candidate who is a serving lawmaker at the National Assembly, Hon. Segun Williams. 

Arabambi noted that, the APC echelon agreed to vote for the two Labour Party's candidates following allegation of anti-party activities by Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Mr. Lanre Edun who were both contesting for senate and House of Representatives seat on the platform of APC. 

THE ENCOUNTER recalls that, Governor Amosun has insisted on several occasions to support his anointed governorship candidate in Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Hon. Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade.

Arabambi said, "since our party is not presenting candidate for the presidential election, therefore, we don't have a choice than to realign with somebody who is in tandem with our manifesto, who is Muhammadu Buhari." 

"Since we are adopting his gubernatorial candidate in Ogun state. We also have to adopt the Presidential candidate of the Party, President Muhammadu Buhari.

"Labour Party finds Prince Dapo Abiodun suitable for the position of Governor. So,  as you can see, it's a win-win situation for the two parties".

"At the meeting, we agreed that we are going to adopt Prince Dapo Abiodun as our gubernatorial candidate, and President Muhammadu Buhari as our Presidential candidate.

"In return, they will also vote for Our candidates. Like in Abeokuta South,  they too have adopted Hon. Segun Williams as their candidate while we will also vote for Hon Olumide Osoba in Abeokuta North, Odeda and Obafemi Owode federal constituency.

"The APC is also adopting Sina Aroyewun"as its Senatorial candidate for Ogun Central ".

Arabambi however said, the national chairman of Labour Party, Alhaji Abdulkabir Salam would at a later date after the declaration of President Buhari as the winner of the Saturday's presidential election, come to Ogun State to officially endorse Prince Dapo Abiodun.

Also present at the meeting is the Director-General, Dapo Abiodun Campaign Organization and former Deputy Governor in Ogun State, Prince Segun Adesegun.