Oyetola Wins, Aregbesola kicks, Alleges Misconduct But ‘Leaves Everything To God’
“We note with shame and much regret the consternation of local and international observers on what they regard as a travesty of an election.”
The victory of Osun state governor, Isiaka Oyetola at the gubernatorial primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has elicited reaction from his rival, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who has said that he and his supporters would be leaving the outcome of the process to God.
Aregbesola said that rather than he and his supporters would engage in undemocratic actions over the alleged irregularities that were recorded during the primary, other peaceful means would be adopted if necessary to reclaim their mandate in the state.
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Through a released after the gubernatorial primaries of the APC that was contested by the incumbent governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, his anointed candidate, Moshood Adeoti, the minister urged the members to leave the collation centers and not engage in violence.
He said; “You are urged not to take laws into your hands. Please leave the rest to the Almighty God and let us explore all peaceful and legal means for addressing the matter in order to obtain justice.
In the statement released on Saturday by his Media Adviser, Sola Fasure, the Osun former governor asked his supporters not to feel depressed by the outcome of the process rather consider themselves as the best and the most democratic members of the party.
“I will urge you to maintain your cool and calm. Be not downcast, be not agitated. Hold your head high. We are still receiving and studying all these reports and will take a definitive position on them.
“Please remain committed to peace and the rule of law. Be unflinching in your commitment to democratic ideals. Democracy is for the long haul. As you all know, we never tire and we never give up on the cause we believe in. Be rest assured that victory is ours.
In the statement titled: Hold Your Heads High, Aregbesola disclosed how the process was made under democratic and how his members were denied access to exercise their rights during the exercise.
Part of the statement reads: “I will like to thank you most sincerely for heeding the call earlier this morning to participate in our party’s governorship primary and conduct yourselves most peacefully. You adopted a non-violent posture, even in the face of sore provocation.
“You have demonstrated your loyalty to the party and democratic ideals. You have comported yourselves as Omoluabi in the true essence.
“We have received and continue to receive the reports of the shenanigans of the officials who conducted the sham of an election. We have been inundated with reports state-wide of how your names were expunged from the party’s voters register, which was not made available until this morning, contrary to the convention of making the list available to the candidates before the election.
“We have heard of how party registration cards were being hawked this morning to the supporters of the state governor.
We have also received reports of how accreditation was not done at all in many wards and how people without the party identification just participated and queued behind the governor in many polling units.
“We have received the report from our members and independent observers, how government officials and notable supporters of the governor officiated in the election, how votes were farcically counted in favour of the governor and how the votes recorded for him were more than the number of voters accredited ab initio in many units.
“We have heard of the absence of result sheets and other vital documents for recording results and vital data. We note also the absence of INEC officials in most wards, casting serious doubt on the credibility of the election.
“We note with shame and much regret the consternation of local and international observers on what they regard as a travesty of an election”.
