In its reaction, the Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party says INEC is dancing naked in the market place.
In a statement on Sunday by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Bode Ogunmola, the PDP in Kogi State accused INEC of double standard.
He explained that same was the situation in the Lokoja federal constituency bye election when the APC candidate was declared the winner.
Ogunmola said, “The world is watching INEC. It will be difficult for it to hide behind a finger as it has shown that it is biased.”
The Kogi State PDP urged the party in Osun State to remain focused even in the midst of the attempt to manipulate its victory.
He described the declaration of the election as inconclusive as a postponement of the evil day by the APC.
Also, the African Democratic Congress said on Sunday that the Osun electoral process was affected by systemic challenges, calling for a conclusion of the election in the “interest of our nation.”
The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mrs Yemi Kolapo, said the electoral challenges were a major threat to democracy.
She said, “We have always been concerned about the systemic challenges affecting the electoral process, which have become a major threat to our democracy. That was why we instituted the Coalition for Electoral Integrity to help in detoxifying the electoral environment.
“We are committed in our pursuit and we just want the Osun election to be concluded so that we can do the needed conversation in the interest of our nation.”
APC appeals to Osun people
However, the APC on Sunday told its supporters in Osun State to remain calm and keep faith with the party as it prepared for the rerun election.
The acting National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Yekini Nabena, said this on the telephone to one of our correspondents.
He said, “We appeal to all our supporters in Osun State to remain calm as we go back to the drawing board to prepare for the rerun election.
“As a party, we also plead with the people of the state to continue to be peaceful and support the APC to return in order to conclude the good work it has started in the state.”
PDP will resist attempt to steal its victory – Atiku
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, in his reaction, called on INEC not to tamper with the will of the Osun people on the choice of their governor.
He said he was sure that the people of the state were behind Adeleke, adding that the opposition party would win the election on Thursday.
Atiku, who is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP, stated this in Abuja on Sunday.
He also said that the PDP would resist any attempt by the APC to steal the “expected victory of our candidate, Adeleke” on Thursday.
He said, “The people of Osun State have freely given their mandate to Senator Adeleke and the PDP and I urge INEC to resist any temptation to be used to tamper with the will of the people of Osun State.
“The attempt by the APC to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat will be resisted with every legitimate and democratic means.
“What has happened in Osun State is a turning point and our people have spoken and democracy is safe. INEC must do the needful.”
Makinde disagrees with INEC
A governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, on Sunday said the reasons given by INEC for declaring the governorship election in Osun State inconclusive were unacceptable.
He said INEC only played a game dictated by some politicians who were afraid of the PDP coming to power in the state.
He said, “Adeleke won the election; INEC must have buckled under pressure from desperate politicians whose cupboards are filled with filth.
“The decision by the election umpire is a disservice to democracy and will not stand the test of time. Such miscarriage of justice will not be allowed to happen in Oyo State.”
Makarfi hails orderly conduct of poll
A PDP presidential aspirant, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, however, commended the people of Osun State for the peaceful conduct of the election.
Makarfi urged Adeleke and his supporters not to relent until the APC reign of terror in the state was brought to an end.
He also called on the INEC and security agencies to strive harder in order to instill confidence on Nigerians ahead of the 2019 general elections.
A statement by Makarfi’s media aide, Mukhtar Sirajo, in Kaduna on Sunday, read in part, “It is the belief of Senator Makarfi that the long suffering people of Osun State, who have had to endure a harrowing experience more than seven years in the hands of the current APC administration, more than three of which were spent with either half salary or no salary by the workforce, until the recent deceitful election-period bailout, have grown wiser and will rally round to ensure that such horrible experience is consigned to the dustbin of history by successfully completing the task they started on Saturday.”
APC unpopular among Nigerians – Junaid
Also, a Second Republic lawmaker and northern elder statesman, Dr Junaid Mohammed, said the Osun election showed that the APC-led government was no longer popular among Nigerians “because of the insecurity and economic hardship in the country.”
Junaid said the Osun election was reminiscent of what might obtain in the 2019 general elections.
He said, “My belief is that the APC has become too arrogant and too reliant on corruption rather than performance to win an election.
“There is a trend emerging in the South-West and that is going to manifest in other parts of the country – from the South to the Middle Belt and to the North – the APC is no longer the predominant party of this country.
“The ridiculous government policies and other misgivings have not given the ruling party any edge in the states. Therefore, 2019 is very open.”
INEC decision right – ex-Deputy NBA chair
However, the immediate-past Second Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Monday Ubani, said INEC was justified in law to declare the election inconclusive.
But he added that he was not sure whether or not the cancellation of those votes that warranted the planned rerun was justified.
“Since the difference in the number of votes between the two leading candidates of the PDP and the APC was less than the cumulative number of registered voters in the units where votes were cancelled, INEC, by law, has the power to declare the election inconclusive.
“In the Osun election, the leading candidate had 353 votes more than the APC candidate.
“The figure is less than the over 3,000 registered voters in the units where the election was cancelled.
“But whether or not the votes were justifiably cancelled is another question.”
The National Rescue Movement has protested against the exclusion of its candidate in the Osun State governorship election, describing it as a stillbirth and exercise in futility.
The party said INEC unlawfully excluded its candidate, Ms Jumoke Lawoyin, despite the fact that the commission witnessed the primary.
Source: Punch