Date: 2018-10-15

Some political leaders in Kwara South Senatorial District are currently canvassing support for a former governorship candidate of Labour Party in Kwara State, Dr Mike Omotosho, as running mate to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship flag bearer in the state, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq, it was learnt yesterday.

Omotosho is the factional National Chairman of Labour Party.

Informed sources said some leaders in Kwara South had met during which they considered the choice of Labour Party boss if he is willing to defect to the party.

It was gathered that the choice of Omotosho was based on his popularity among other chieftains of the APC from Kwara South as well his nickname, Omotosure, which has become household name in the state.

The Herald was told that the Labour Party Chairman, despite his political difference with the APC, has personal relationships with some stalwarts of the party.

Two prominent leaders of the party from Ifelodun and Isin Local Government Areas of the state on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the APC was poised for victory in the forthcoming general elections in the state and would spare no effort in galvanising support for its governorship candidate.

The party chieftain in Isin specifically told The Herald that the choice of Omotosho might be strange because he does not belong to the APC but what it paramount to the party is victory.

He said, "I understand that the push for Mike Omotosho to be the running mate of the APC governorship candidate in the state might be taken with surprise because he does not belong to our party. It is very strange we know and it is not like we have run short of capable individuals who can deputise our candidate but we have factored in so many things.

"One of those things we considered is the popularity of the person among the people. If you recall, Omotosho was the governorship candidate of Labour Party in Kwara State in 2015. Although he lost in the election, that notwithstanding had made his nickname of Omotosure, a household name.

"We have seen that if we have to garner a number of votes in Kwara South, we need a person like him. We are working behind the scene to see how we can woo him into our party. And it is not like we are doing this on our own, we are carrying the party along.

"For us, it is a good choice. Because our governorship candidate is seeking votes in Kwara Central, we also need a popular individual who we can present before our people and thereby getting the support required for us to record resounding success".

Another APC chieftain from Ifelodun local government said the choice of Omotosho as the deputy governorship candidate was not misplaced and efforts would be geared towards encouraging him to join the party.

He said the party cannot afford to lose the state to the PDP in the 2019 elections on the crisis of who serves as running mate to the candidate of the party, appealing to stakeholders to reason along.

"Yes, it is true that some leaders of APC had met on the choice of Omotosho as our deputy governorship candidate. We know he is not in our party but what is important for us is to look everywhere for support so that the victory can be ours.

"He is not in our party, agreed. We can always woo him and bring him on board. For now, APC has turned major opposition in the state and the ruling PDP would do anything to retain power. And that is why we have to do all we could to ensure that we also bring in popular candidate so that we can get enough votes from Kwara South", he said.

The Head of Media and Publicity Committee of the state chapter of the APC, Mr Kayode Oyin-Zubair, could not be reached for comment last night and response to a text message sent to him inquiring on the choice of Omotosho as deputy governorship candidate of the party was still being awaited as at press time.

Similarly, the APC governorship flag bearer, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, was not available for comment through his mobile telephone handset.