Ebenezer Adurokiya, Reporting
IN a concerted push to secure victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming Osun State governorship election, the party’s women leaders – including the candidate’s wife, Dr Sekinat Oyebamiji, former First Lady of Osun State, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola, and other prominent female figures – have taken their campaign directly to the heart of Osogbo’s bustling commercial district.
The team, which also included former Deputy Governor Mrs Titilaoye Ponle, wife of the deputy governorship candidate Princess Adebukola Adereti, and APC Women Leader Alhaja Kudirat Fakokunde, descended on the popular Orisunmbare Market on Monday for a voters’ sensitisation engagement.
The event drew a large turnout of market leaders, traders, market women and residents, all eager to hear from the APC delegation.
Addressing the assembled traders, Dr Sekinat Oyebamiji described the visit as a homecoming, reminding them of her husband’s familiarity with their struggles and aspirations.
“This market is homecoming for us. You are all familiar with AMBO and his agenda for our dear state. My mothers, Iyalojas, well done for your mobilisation for our party,” she said.
“I was told that market women in Orisunmbare will not support us, but I refuted that claim. Now I am more confident that you are for us after inviting us here to canvass for you and educate you on where to vote.”
She urged the women to work tirelessly for the victory of her husband, known popularly as AMBO, in Osogbo.
“You have received the message of AMBO and you only want to hear it clearer by inviting us here today. I am confident that the PROPER agenda will accommodate women, especially traders, largely because we cannot talk about prosperity without you,” she added.
Dr Oyebamiji charged the market women to go out en masse on election day, urging them to bring along six additional voters each to cast their ballots for the APC.
“Please go out en masse to cast your vote for AMBO. While going to polling units, don’t go alone but take along six people to cast their votes for APC. This vote must be massive. Don’t listen to their propaganda and don’t fight them,” she said.
Former First Lady Mrs Kafayat Oyetola took the engagement a step further by showing the market women a specimen of the ballot paper, educating them on how to properly identify and vote for the APC.
“You will not see the picture of AMBO on the ballot but APC with its logo. Vote for us and you will not regret it. I can assure you,” she said.
Earlier, the Babaloja of Orisunmbare Market, Chief Qamarudeen Adeoti, assured the APC team of the traders’ support, stating that the current Accord administration had failed the people and that a change was long overdue.
The market engagement forms part of the APC’s broader strategy to secure grassroots support ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with women and traders identified as crucial voting blocs capable of swinging the outcome in key urban centres like Osogbo.
