The Oluwo of Iwo, Rasheed Akanbi, has promised to deliver 90,000 votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Gboyega Oyetola.

Vanguard reports that the traditional ruler was said to have spoken with journalists after casting his ballot at his polling unit in Ward 2, Iwo, Osun State, on Saturday.

Mr Akanbi said he endorsed the governor because he pays civil servant salaries promptly and inherited debts owed by the state. He applauded the governor for “doing a great job” in the state while encouraging residents to vote peacefully. 

“I am confident of delivering 90,000 votes. It is not easy for the Governor to move from the status quo and do what is right. He has been paying full salary. Osun is a civil servant State and the people depend on salaries,” Mr Akanbi said.

“He has been paying debt inherited and didn’t use the money for frivolities. I have told my people to vote for the APC and they will vote for the APC.

“The Governor is doing a great job.I believe the person doing a great job should continue. I want all persons to vote peacefully,” the traditional ruler said.

Mr Akanbi said vote-buying was a challenge to Nigeria’s democracy and was largely driven by acute hunger among millions of the country’s poor, adding that a workable solution was to ensure that Nigerians enjoy the dividends of democracy.

“Vote buying is a challenge to democracy. The populace does not have hope. They are getting what they can get. It is a bad situation. We do not know when to get out of it.

“The new breed of politicians will help us to get out of it but people are hungry. They need food. Vote buying cannot stop now until we see real dividends of democracy,” he said.

He added, “My domain is peaceful. I have told them nobody should stay home. They should show their voting strength. We want to see our strength. Nobody should stay home and watch television.”

Mr Oyetola is seeking re-election in the ongoing Osun gubernatorial election on the APC platform against Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 14 other contenders.