– says exercise is biggest electoral robbery ever in the state
– security agencies compromise
– it won’t accept the results because rerun was not free, fair
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has alleged that Thursday’s re- run governorship election in Osun State was compromised majorly by the security agencies mobilized to maintain law and order.
In astatement by the South West Zonal Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Ayo Fadaka, it said: “We note very disappointingly that the on going election in Osun is already being compromised majorly by the Security Agencies mobilised to maintain law and order.
It is disappointing to note that unnecessary leverage has been accorded to the APC as its thugs have unfettered movement and capabilities to perpetrate all lawlessness.
It is surprising that in this election, agents of PDP have been clearly disallowed from discharging their responsibilities, they were precluded from operating in Orolu and Ife South.
In Orolu particularly, thugs have been assaulting and intimidating residents since Monday and all reports of these incidents have not been addressed by the Police.
Absolutely sad it is to declare that the PDP Youth Leader in Ife South has been killed alongside another pregnant woman who suffered the same fate for insisting that she must be allowed to exercise her voting right independently.
It is terrible to note that journalists and election observers have been harassed and arrested in this election by security agencies, this is absolutely disheartening.
We are however pleased to note that INEC has expressed its displeasure over the conduct of this re-run election, we however place the entire blame of this charade on its doorstep as it has abdicated its umpire role and descended into the fray.
Therefore we state most unequivocally that the results of this election have been predetermined and as such cannot be acceptable to us as a Party because it is not free and fair.
We must remind the APC Government of President Muhammadu Buhari that we are in a democracy where votes must count and not a dictatorship, the terms of engagement for security agencies under the Buhari administration seems to be tailored towards lending a helping hand to the APC in every election and this is disappointing.
We therefore reject outrightly whatever results that will emanate from this obvious sham going on in Osun, it is a coup against democracy, we also wish to urge all Nigerians to take a serious view of this odious development in Osun.
Buhari became President because the preceding Jonathan administration observed all the tenets of democracy and played by the rules. Every election conducted under the Buhari administration has all been compromised as electoral fraud characterised them all.
We arrived at this current destination in Osun because INEC permitted sharp practices to rob the PDP of about 4,387 votes while allocating another unearned 3,487 votes to APC, this is indeed a sad period in our national life.
We however wish to remind the President and his Party that Nigeria as a nation cannot be bogged down by this narrow minded actions.
We believe that the judiciary in Nigeria remain credible and it will certainly adjudicate in this matter, the victory they hope to snatch through this cheap action will eventually be returned to the rightful owner.
We are also happy that Nigerians are beginning to see the APC for what it truly represents.”
Osun rerun is open robbery – PDP
Also, the party described the rerun election as the biggest electoral robbery ever witnessed in the history of the state.
The Chairman of the PDP in Osun State, Mr Soji Adagunodo, said this in a statement in Osogbo on Thursday.
Adagunodo said the alleged brazen electoral fraud would be resisted by the party, saying the stolen mandate would be resisted in court.
He alleged thet the election was openly rigged by the APC with the support of security personnel in broad daylight,
Adagunodo said, “Thousands of eligible voters were chased away from their homes in Orolu, Ife North and Ife South Local Government Areas in the early hours of today (Thursday).
Scores of our supporters in those local governments were shot and stabbed on their way to polling centres and in the full glare of security men. Hundreds of people holding PVCs from other polling units were accredited and allowed to vote in Osogbo and Ife South Local Governments.
PDP agent in Olode was axed and abducted at 7am today. Media men and election observers were denied access in several polling units. By the time access was granted to journalists about 11am, ballot boxes had been stuffed by APC agents acting in connivance with INEC officials.”
The PDP chairman said it was regrettable that election in seven polling units could not be freely and fairly conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said, “We reject any returns of results from this sham and call on the INEC authorities in Abuja to direct that the so-called supplementary election result collation be put on hold now.
We equally invite leaders of thought in Nigeria and the International community to rise up now to rescue Nigeria’s democracy from being ruined.
We equally call on all members and supporters of our party to resist any attempt to foist concocted election results on the people of Osun using all legal means at their disposal.”
Vanguard/Punch
