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No fewer than 300 aspirants from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have signified interest to contest the forthcoming local government election in Oyo State billed for next month.
Already, the aspirants for councillorship and chairmanship positions drawn from the 33 local government areas have been screened in their various senatorial districts and local governments.
However the jostle for space over the election has polarized the party as some chieftains of the party have accused Governor Abiola Ajimobi of imposition.
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In particular, they alleged that Ajimobi sidelined loyalists of late former governor, Lam Adesina, even when the governor assured recently that the election would be free and fair.
Similarly, the state chairman of APC, Mr. Akin Oke said so far, the party leadership had been very fair to all the aspirants.
“The screening of aspirants have come and gone. The process has so far been fair and credible. What we are waiting for is the report of the committee that conducted the screening.
“It is after the screening that aspirants will know whether they are cleared or not. After this, the primary will be conducted in the party,” he asserted.
It was learnt that aspirants for the chairmanship positions from Oyo South Senatorial district were screened at Ibadan North Local government secretariat; those from Oyo North had theirs at Iseyin; while the aspirants from Oyo Central were screened at Akinyele Local Government.
One of the contestants said that the process has been fair so far. “The process has been fair and we are all awaiting the final reports of the committee that conducted the screening.”
