Indications emerged at the weekend that Professor Adeolu Akande, the former Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission ((NCC), has joined the race for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Oyo North Senatorial District of the State.
The Professor of Political Science and Lawyer was reported to have made whistle stop consultation across the senatorial zone at the weekend. He was quoted by many sources as formally declaring his interest in the ticket after twelve years of Senator Fatai Buhari from the Ogbomosho zone of the senatorial district.
Professor Akande may be slugging it out with two other aspirants who have indicated interest in the APC ticket. They are; a sitting member of the House of Representatives for Saki West/Saki East/Atisbo Local Government, Hon. Tajudeen Were, and former Head of Service in Oyo State, Mrs Hannah Ogunesan, both from Saki West Local Government.
However, sources in the APC claimed there might be a fourth aspirant in the person of Senator Abdul Fatai Buhari, who is said to be interested in returning to the Red chamber for a fourth term. Senator Buhari, who served as Special Adviser and Commisioner in the Government of Senator Abiola Ajimobi between 2011 and 2015, has been in the Red Chamber since 2015.
Professor Akande’s entry into the Senatorial race has further tightened politicking within the APC in the district as two politicians in the district; former Minister for Communications, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu and former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engr Rauph Olaniyan, have both indicated interest in the governorship of the state.
They may be vying for the APC ticket with Senator Buhari, who is also said to be contemplating contesting for the governorship ticket if a return to the Red Chamber proves difficult. Shittu had spoken in many radio interviews lately of his intention to contest for the governorship of the state, arguing that it was time for an indigene of Oke Ogun extraction to govern the state.
