Ogun Guber: Reverse Result Declaration, PDP Laments, Ask INEC Chairman To Act

The Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reverse its verdict on the outcome of Saturday’s governorship election.

Eaglesforesight had gathered that INEC earlier declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun won the Ogun election.

But the PDP said the mandate of the masses given to the party had been stolen.

At a press conference on Monday, the PDP Chairman in Ogun, Honourable Sikirulahi Ogundele, said INEC was in unpatriotic connivance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that the security agencies provided support, alleging that they “brazenly rigged the results of the governorship and house of assembly elections.”

Ogundele stated that the police, the military and other security agents ”provided virile cover for gun-wielding criminals to disrupt and burn ballot boxes in over 100 polling units across the State.”

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It was said that the party had, before the election, alerted security agencies of the “devilish plans” to launch a large-scale disruption of electoral process and possible snatching of ballot boxes in any polling units perceived to be PDP’s stronghold.

“But despite our warnings, those who should be at the forefront of confronting these assaults aided them,” Ogundele regretted.

He expressed concern that the Chairman Sagamu local government, who was arrested with AK-47 automatic rifle and other condiments, was released within one hour.

He also said leaders of transport unions in Ogun, “Efele and Danny were arrested leading criminal squads to disrupt polling units only to be released within one hour.”

The party Chairman maintained that Saturday’s election was heavily characterized with unprecedented violence in several local government areas like Sagamu, “where 54 polling units were attacked by APC sponsored thugs and ballot boxes and other sensitive election materials were carted away and burnt to ashes.”

It was added that similar occurrences took place in 14 local governments including: Odogbolu, Remo North, Ipokia, Ogun Waterside, Ikenne, Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Ado Odo Ota, Ifo, Ijebu East, Ijebu North East, Obafemi Owode and Ijebu Ode. A total of 14 local governments out of the 20.

“To our greatest dismay, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC legalised and legitimize these atrocities when it failed to acknowledge the disruption of votes in these local governments and followed the provision of Section 24 Subsection 3 and Section 51 Subsection 3 of the Electoral Act as amended.

“It is self-evident that INEC has made itself a willing tool in the hands of the peoples forsaken APC,” Ogundele said, stressing that the figures announced by INEC ”does not represent the popular wish of the people.”

Ogundele told newsmen that the Returning Officer, Prof. Kayode Adebowale refused to mention the total cancelled votes because he knew it was way over the winning margin multiple times, saying he should have declared the election inconclusive as done in Kebbi State.

“We are hereby calling on the National Chairman of the INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to reverse this clear manipulation, injustice and rape of democracy by the Returning Officer in Ogun State by declaring the Ogun governorship election inconclusive and ordering a rerun in affected areas.

“We are also calling on the INEC Chairman to replace the state’s Returning Officer with someone of proven integrity and unbiased posture.

“We want to assure our supporters and the people to be assured that we will do everything possible to right this injustice and it shall never stand,” he submitted.