Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abu Gbadamosi may emerge as Chairman of the party when it holds its congress in Ibadan on Saturday.
This indication emerged on Thursday when his Local Government, Kajola Local Government, became the recipient of the Chairmanship slot zoned to Oke Ogun 1 zone comprising Iseyin/Kajola/Iwajowa/Itesiwaju Local Government by the party.
The Oyo State chapter of the party had on Wednesday zoned the chairmanship of the party to Oke Ogun 1 among other offices shared among the 7 administrative zones of the state.
At the meeting of elders of the four Local Governments making up the federal Constituency in Okeho, the 24 elders by votes of 16-3-3-2 elected Kajola Local Government to produce the Chairman of the party. Kajola Local Government polled 16 votes, Iseyin Local Government polled 3 votes ,Iwajowa local government polled 3 and Itesiwaju Local Government polled two votes. Gbadamosi is the sole candidate for the office in Kajola Local Government.
A veteran of progressive politics, Gbadamosi had been active in party politics since the second republic when he led the youth wing of the Unity Party of Nigeria. He is a foundation member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and has consistently remained in the party. When some of his allies decamped to ADC and ADP following the crisis over the crisis on the 2018 state congress, Gbadamosi drew their angers when he chose to remain in the APC.
The meeting of 24 called by elders in the zone drew six members from each of the four constituent Local Governments. After hours of deliberation, four motions were made making each of the councils a candidate to produce the Chairman.
Kajola, favouring Gbadamosi scored 16 votes. Iseyin, favouring Engr. Bolade, a former Chairman of the Local Government, scored three votes. Itesiwaju Local Government scored three votes amidst indications that it might feature Jiboye Omodewu, a former Commissioner and gubernatorial aspirant, as candidate, Iwajowa, supporting incumbent APC Senatorial Chairman, Rasak Arikewu, scored 2 votes.
The three other offices zoned to the zone were shared as follows: Assistant Welfare Officer-Itesiwaju, Assistant Financial Secrerary – Iwajowa and Senatorial Youth Leader- Iseyin.