Osun election: PDP attacks Buhari for celebrating ‘stolen mandate’

The Peoples Democratic Party on Friday said that it was wrong for President Muhammadu Buhari to have congratulated the All Progressives Congress candidate in the Osun State governorship election , Adegboyega Oyetola .
It said that the President by the action , had shown that the Presidency was behind the alleged electoral manipulations , outright rigging and bloodletting that the PDP said marred the process .

In a statement in Abuja on Friday, the PDP said it was sad that Buhari chose to ignore the observations of both local and international observers who he said monitored the rerun .

“ Nothing can be more reprehensive ; while the entire world is condemning the process and the blood of the innocent that were maimed by the APC thugs is yet to dry on the streets of Osun State , the Presidency and the APC are busy celebrating a stolen mandate , ” the party said .

This came just as civil rights groups and chieftains of the PDP , including the President of the Senate , Dr . Bukola Saraki and ex – Vice – President Atiku Abubakar , berated the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Buhari- led administration over the conduct of the Osun State governorship election .

Osun poll , a demonstration of tyranny

– Atiku

Atiku , in a statement on Friday, described the declaration of the candidate of the APC in the election , Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola , as the winner as triumph of tyranny .

He said the announcement did not tally with what happened in the state on Saturday , September 22 , and Thursday when the rerun in seven polling units was held.

According to him , the PDP candidate in the election , Senator Ademola Adeleke , won the poll .

The former Vice – President stated , “ The result just declared today ( Friday) in Osun by the INEC in favour of the APC and its candidate is a travesty of justice . That was not democracy . That was a demonstration of tyranny .

“ The victory of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ademola Adeleke , was firmly established last week on Saturday the 22 nd of September , 2018 .

“ This so- called victory of the APC is not a democratic victory . Observers, both foreign and domestic , reported the brazen intimidation of voters and outright suppression of voting in the PDP strongholds with even the PDP agents physically prevented from being at the polling units. ”

It is an embarrassment to Nigeria ’ s democracy – Saraki

On his part, Saraki said the supplementary election was a charade and an embarrassment to Nigeria ’ s democracy .

In a statement on Friday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity , Yusuph Olaniyonu , Saraki stated that the rerun was not needed in the first instance while the supplementary poll was unfair .

The statement read , “ Yesterday ( Friday) , we witnessed another display of the subversion of the will of the Osun people during the rerun gubernatorial election in the state . The election was characterised by widespread voter intimidation , violence and harassment. Accredited observers were denied access to polling units and duly registered voters were prevented from participating in the electoral process by thugs and compromised security agents .

“ Like I said a few days ago , this needless rerun election was only designed as an avenue for the ruling party to perpetrate electoral fraud. The nature of this election is an embarrassment to our democracy and casts an alarming pall on the institutions responsible for protecting the will of the Nigerian people as stated through their votes . That was why for more than 10 hours , INEC could not collate and announce results in just seven polling units with just over 2 , 000 votes . ”

PDP calls for Yakubu’ s resignation

Meanwhile , the National Executive Committee of the PDP called for the resignation of the Chairman of INEC , Prof . Mahmood Yakubu .

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr . Kola Ologbondiyan , stated this while briefing journalists after the NEC meeting on Thursday .

The party accused the Yakubu – led INEC of connivance and manipulations of the electoral process in Thursday ’ s governorship rerun in Osun State.

The PDP spokesman said , “ NEC warned against allowing the current INEC leadership under Prof . Mahmood Yakubu to continue in office as it has shown it cannot conduct a free , fair and credible election at any level . ”

INEC declines comment

However , INEC refused to make any comment on the PDP allegations on Friday. Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi , the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman , declined to speak on the matter.

A top source in the commission , however , said , “ This is the fifth or sixth time that the PDP would make such call for the chairman ’ s resignation and all is because of the elections that they have lost . In a democracy , when you are the loser , it is easy to make noise. ”

APC hails poll , Oyetola ’ s victory

But the APC , however , insisted that its candidate in the election , Oyetola , won the poll .

It described his victory as an “ emphatic and hard – fought win. ”

This was contained in a statement signed by the acting National Publicity Secretary of the APC , Yekini Nabena, in Abuja , on Friday.

The ruling party said its candidate won the election despite attempts by the PDP to subvert the will of the people through various attempts to rig the poll .

Oshiomhole taunts Saraki, PDP

Also , the National Chairman of the APC , Adams Oshiomhole , said the party succeeded where Saraki and the PDP failed to strike a deal with Senator Iyiola Omisore .

Oshiomhole said Omisore ’ s support played a decisive role in galvanising support for the APC candidate who won the election .

The APC chairman said this at a press conference in Abuja, on Friday.

He said , “ I will like to again express our gratitude to God and to the great people of Osun State for renewing confidence in our party as evidence by their free choice of the APC candidate in the 22 nd September election .

“ I want to be able to assure the great people of Osun State that the new governor under the guidance of the party will do everything possible to justify the confidence reposed , not only in the governor as a person , the governor – elect but also in our party as a political party platform . ”

Our pact with Omisore — Oshiomhole

Oshiomhole has explained the agreement of the party with the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the election , Senator Iyiola Omisore .

Oshiomhole , who gave the explanation at a press conference in Abuja on Friday , said that there would not be automatic ticket for Omisore .

Responding to a question on whether the APC promised Omisore an automatic ticket to contest a senatorial seat, He said , “ I don’ t like those words ‘ automatic tickets . ’ I was careful even after the meeting we had with our lawmakers not to use those words .

“ We will provide a level – playing field for all to contest , if I didn ’ t promise our members automatic tickets , how can I promise a person I do not yet know ?”

He noted that , perhaps , the PDP forgot that Omisore had served as a deputy governor to Chief Bisi Akande , the pioneer interim national chairman of the APC before the then PDP government “ rigged them out of office .

Oshiomhole said the working relationship between Omisore ’ s Social Democratic Party and the APC in support of Oyetola , proved decisive .

Oshiomhole said , “ I said we had a negotiation and had a deal that has to do with the governance of Osun State. I didn ’ t go with money and I don’ t have money to give to anybody . He didn ’ t ask and there was no basis for him to ask.

“ We agreed that he would have an opportunity for him to contest for a seat on the APC platform . Not just for Senate or House of Representatives , but also for house of assembly . That is why I said we spoke about the immediate which is the Osun election and going forward . ”

He said the APC having recognised the fact that the SDP was critical to the rerun , decided to a open negotiation with its leadership.

Oshiomhole stated , “ He ( Omisore ) told us that , yes he has lost , but he believes that he can still win if we have a deal that seeks to address the primary purpose of his participation in the process which is the governance of the state and specific policy issues that were of concern to him .

“ We had a robust conversation and reached an agreement which I think is healthy . We didn ’ t have to negotiate about compensation or about paying money to anyone . The issue was about governance , education and how we can have a working relationship ahead of the general election and in future elections.

“ We were able to strike a deal that has to do with the specific issues that affect the welfare and the well being of the people of Osun State . Whereas Saraki failed to strike a deal with the SDP, we secured a deal with them and now the APC, working with the SDP had huge influence in those areas and combining our efforts , it was not strange that at the end , we won . ”

Buhari ’ s integrity at stake – ADC

However , the African Democratic Congress , in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary , Mrs . Yemi Kolapo , said the supplementary poll was nothing but a sham .

According to the ADC , it is now clear that “ the failed government will stop at nothing to subvert the people ’ s will . ”

The party stated , “ For a government that has failed to deliver on all its promises and has instead foisted untold suffering on citizens , while resorting to lies , bogus claims , witch – hunting to cover up its gross deficiencies , the Osun debacle was , indeed , a desperate last resort to retain power by all means .

My mandate is sacred , says Oyetola

However , the Osun State governor – elect , Oyetola , has described the mandate given to him by the people of the state as sacred

Oyetola , who said this in his acceptance speech made available to one of our correspondents in Osogbo on Friday , expressed gratitude to the people of the state and to the APC leaders and members , saying he would not let the people down because he was familiar with the challenges ahead .

He said , “ I regard the mandate given to me by the good people of Osun as sacred and I am taking it seriously . Of course , I have been part of the new beginning that started eight years ago .

Oyetola stated that he won the governorship election at the first ballot , saying there were loads of evidence to prove this but he just accepted the INEC ’ s decision on the rerun supplementary poll .

However , the PDP governorship candidate , Adeleke , insisted that the APC had stolen his mandate , assuring his supporters that he would reclaim it in court .

Police , CDD disagree over violence at Osun poll

Meanwhile , the Police and the Centre for Democracy and Development have disagreed over cases of violence at the Osun State governorship election .

Although the Nigeria Police Force said there was no record of violence during the supplementary poll , the CDD , in its assessment , stated that the conduct of some key stakeholders during the poll clearly ran contrary to democratic norms and standards.

The police had debunked reports that thugs harassed some voters , journalists and observers at some wards , saying no one was prevented from carrying out their civic responsibility during the election .

The NPF spokesman , Jimoh Moshood , said in a statement in Abuja on Friday that there was no official complaint of violence or injuries , stressing that the Inspector -General of Police , Ibrahim Idris, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the police personnel during the poll .

But the CDD , in a statement by its Executive Director , Idayat Hassan , berated the conduct of security agents and politicians , who she said took steps that were clearly inimical to the conduct of a free , fair and credible election .

Hassan said , “ The CDD observers reported several cases of denial of access to polling units to observers , and even voters . CDD ’ s field observers deployed to observe the process and ensure its credibility , especially in Orolu and Osogbo local government areas , were intimidated , threatened and in some cases arrested by security forces .

“ Credible reports from our field observers showed that despite being duly accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission, several of the observers and journalists were stopped from observing the process . ”

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