Osun Governorship Re-run Election: PDP Kicks

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has alleged that the process of the Saturday governorship election in Osun state was designed to favour the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

The party at a press conference addressed by the state Chairman, Soji Adagunodo, alleged that the plot to declare the election inconclusive was pre-planned and orchestrated by INEC in collaboration with the APC.

“The whole world has just witnessed a blatant rape of democracy, a deliberate thwarting of people’s will and a reprehensible assault on the aspiration of Osun voters. Today was made to be a day of liberation from bad government and inhuman rulership, anti-people politicians have delayed the day of celebration.

“The whole world saw how our party and candidate were denied victory. In that election, we fought against multiple forces, the state deployed against us. From the beginning, our candidate and supporters were subjected to assault. The entire electoral process was programmed to favour the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

“We raise several critical issues, bothering on fake polling units, deployment of unclaimed PVCs, inducement of Corps members, unholy partnership with security agencies, touches and cloning of PVCs, open monetary payments to voters among others. All issue raised by our party were ignored by the electoral commission and relevant agencies.

“The level of impunity demonstrated by the electoral umpire in connivance with other Federal agencies was unrivalled in Nigeria electoral history. Our party went to the election with only one weapon at our disposal- the unalloyed loyalty and support of Osun people.

“Despite all these malfeasance, our candidate, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke, satisfied the conditions laid down by law to be declared winner if the governorship election, having scored the highest number of votes cast and obtained a quarter of votes cast in all 30 local government of Osun state.

“We therefore condemn the decision of INEC not to declare our candidate as the winner of the election despite fulfilling all stipulated constitutional and legal requirements. The constitution is clear on requirements to be declared winner of a governorship election.

“We want to call the attention of Nigerians to the reality that the plot to declare the election inconclusive was pre-planned and orchestrated by INEC in collaboration with the APC.

“APC agents in following security personnel deliberately attacked the polling units at Orolu, Ife North, Ife South and Osogbo which are PDP strongholds. It was to prepare ground for their infamous inconclusive declaration.

“Aside that, the state returning Officer deliberately refused to correct our complaints of arithmetical errors and gross irregularities in Ilesa East, Ife East, Osogbo, Olorunda, Ayedaade and Boripe Local Government.

“We therefore condemn in the strongest possible terms the undemocratic conduct of INEC. The decision is illegal, absurd, abnormal and a condemnable trampling on the wishes of Osun people.