Addressing newsmen in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, the Chairman of the conference, Mr. Adekunle Omo-aje, said INEC erred on its decision and failure to announce Senator Ademola Adeleke, as winner of the contest, having scored majority of the lawful votes cast.
Omo-aje said the discretionary power exercised by the Returning Officer, Prof. Joseph Afuwape was totally in variance with the dictates of section 68 of the Electoral Act, adding that such action remains an aberration.
The CRPP chairman further described the development as travesty of justice and a rape of Nigeria ‘s electoral process, with an intent to bend the rules to the advantage of some few.
“We denounce the decision of INEC to declare the governorship election inconclusive, and it’s failure to announce Senator Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the election.
“Under section 69 of the electoral act, 2010: In an election to the office of President or Governor, whether or not contested and in any contested election, to any other elective office, the result shall be ascertained by counting the votes cast for each candidate and subject to the provision of sections 133, 134, and 179 of the constitution.
“The candidate that received the highest number of votes shall be declared elected by the appropriate Returning Officer.
“Whereas, between the two leading candidates, Senator Ademola Adeleke, and Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, Adeleke has more than one quarter of all the votes cast in each of more than two third of all the local government areas in the state and won with 353 majority votes as announced by INEC.
“We call on INEC, without further delay to revert itself in the interest of the sustenance of democracy in our country by declaring Senator Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the gubernatorial election held on September 27”,
Omo-aje said.
In the same vein, a PDP aspirant for Oriade State Constituency in Osun, Mr. Success Ogunkolade, has described the decision for a rerun as the handiwork of those he termed as enemies of democracy.
He said such action, which according to him was retrogressive in a democratic setting was a move to take the state back to the era of sadness and hunger.
“Where there is light, darkness can never prevail. Osun is done with selfish and expired politicians, who see themselves as mini god. The good people of Osun state have spoken through the ballot and they will do that again come tomorrow.
“People should learn to bow out when the ovation is high. It is a shameful that there are always bitter losers in this country. The show of sportsmanship is the best thing that brings peace and harmony. You can’t continue to harm and hurt people and expect them to love you.
“The standard of education is in shambles. People want change and the real change came on Saturday, but the APC want to rewrite what God has already written.
“I am using this opportunity to call on all the good people of Osogbo, Orolu and Ile Ife to reject any attempt by anybody to allow this suffering in Osun state to continue”.
