#OSUNDECIDES: ‘The whole world has just witnessed a blatant rape of democracy’– Osun PDP

The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned the conduct of the Osun State governorship election, branding it a “blatant rape of democracy”.

The party accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of working for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Full statement below:

TEXT OF A PRESS BRIEFING ADDRESSED BY THE OSUN STATE CHAIRMAN OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY,HON. OLASOJI ADAGUNODO OVER THE OSUN STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION HELD ON SATURDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER, 2018

Gentlemen of the Press,

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 meant to be a day of liberation from bad government and inhuman rulership; anti-people politicians have delayed the day of celebration and freedom from oppressors and slave holders.

The whole world saw how our party and candidate were denied victory in a hotly contested election. In that election, we fought against the multiple forces of state deployed against us with reckless abandon. From the beginning ,our party and candidate were subjected to coordinated assaults and protracted litigations, assault and blackmail.

The entire electoral process was programmed to favour the ruling All Progressive Congress.We raised several critical issues bordering on fake polling units ,deployment of unclaimed PVCs,inducements of Corp members , unholy partnership with security agencies ,purchase and cloning of PVC,open monetary payments to voters among others. All issues 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 Nigerian electoral history. Our party went to the election with only one weapon at our disposal -the unalloyed loyalty and support of Osun people.This was well demonstrated at the polls with our candidate ,Senator Ademola Adeleke widely supported by the people.

Despite all these malfeasance however, our candidate Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke satisfied the conditions laid down by law to be declared winner of the Governorship election conducted yesterday; having scored the highest number of votes cast and obtained a quarter of votes cast in all 30 local governments 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 Nigerian constitution is clear on requirements to be declared winner of a Governorship election.

For the sake of clarity, Section 172 subsection 2 of the constitution is quoted below:

(2) A candidate for an election to the office of Governor of a State shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being two or more candidates –

(a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and

(b) he has not less than one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the local government areas in the State.

(3) In default of a candidate duly elected in accordance with subsection (2) of this section there shall be a second election in accordance with subsection (4) of this section at which the only candidates shall be –

(a) the candidate who secured the highest number of votes cast at the election; and

(b) one among the remaining candidates who secured a majority of votes in the highest number of local government areas in the State, so however that where there are more than one candidate with a majority of votes in the highest number of local government areas, the candidate among them with the next highest total of votes cast at the election shall be the second candidate.

(4) In default of a candidate duly elected under subsection (2) of this section, the Independent National Electoral Commission shall within seven days of the result of the election held under that subsection, arrange for an election between the two candidates and a candidate at such election shall be deemed to have been duly elected to the office of Governor of a State if –

(a) he has a majority of the votes cast at the election; and

(b) he has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast.

Despite the above,the INEC ignored the law and decided to serve partisan interest of the APC.

Read also: #OSUNDECIDES: Saraki disagrees with INEC on rerun

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 collaboration with 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 arithmethical errors and gross irregularities in Ilesa East, Ife East,Osogbo,Olorunda,Ayedaade and Boripe Local Governments.As a controversy long hatched ,PDP complaints were ignored as part of pro-APC agenda.

We therefore condemn in the strongest possible terms the undemocratic conduct of INEC. The decision is illegal, absurd, abnormal and a condemenable trampling on the wishes of Osun people. All options are on the table on this unconstitutional act.

We won’t and this briefing without expressing our appreciation to the good people of Osun state. We appreciate the confidence you deposed in us.

However it is not over.The battle to chase away the slave drivers is not complete. Let us guide our loins for the last onslaught.

SIGNED
Hon Soji Adagunodo,
Chairman PDP, Osun state
23RD SEPTEMBER 2018

 

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