The Nation Newspaper

Category: Election

  • Mimiko clamours for staggered elections

    •Gets INEC’s Certificate of Return 

     

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday canvassed staggered elections to curb electoral malpractices.

    He spoke when he received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) National Commissioner in charge of Southwest, Prof. Lai Olorode, in Akure.

    His Deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, was also given his certificate at the ceremony attended by Mimiko’s wife, Olukemi and Labour Party’s (LP’s) National Chairman, Dan Nwuanyanwu, among others.

    Mimiko said: “One critical element of success is these staggered elections. I’m sure we did not deliberately craft it, but it has been crafted for us.

    “It appears God has decided to intervene in our electoral affairs through this. I believe our electoral umpire, INEC, should go to that and create a regimen of staggered elections for the country.

    “From my experience in the elections that took place in Edo and Ondo states on these staggered elections option, it will probably be one credible solution to the challenges of electoral malpractices in Nigeria.”

    He said INEC should ensure that the logos of the political parties that are similar are not printed on the ballot papers close to each other, to avoid voided votes.

    Governor Mimiko advocated continuous voter registration to include those who have attained the voting age.

    He hailed INEC for its increased commitment to have a credible electoral system, and thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for fulfilling his promise to provide security.

    Olorode said: “Though INEC is claiming to be perfect, there are bound to be challenges. The most important thing is to remove what remains of electoral malfeasance.”

    He said INEC has zero tolerance for indiscipline among its workers, adding: “Only God knows the number of INEC officials that have been axed since 2011.”

    Olorode, who noted that the over 40 per cent voters’ turnout is the highest so far in the country, described the jubilation that greeted the declaration of the result as an evidence of transparent conduct of the poll.

  • ‘We ‘ll take our stand soon’

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State yesterday said it is studying the governorship election result released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday, with a view to pursuing justice through the appropriate quarter.

    The party said it is compiling and collating reports across the state, adding: “We are heading for the tribunal to seek redress.”

    The party, through its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Wale Ozogoro, said it had noticed the misapplication of electoral guidelines in the governorship poll.

    It said: “We are convinced that justice will be obtained as we intend to seek same at the appropriate time.

    “However, the party is not taken aback by the comments of a few individuals who feel that the party should not go to the tribunal to seek redress. We want to put it on record that seeking justice at the appropriate quarter is part of the rule of law, which is the bedrock of democratic ethos.

    “We, therefore, want to avail ourselves of every available option under the law to seek justice and rekindle the hope and aspiration of the Ondo people that a democracy built on fairness, equity and justice can truly be achieved.

    “The party sympathises with Ondo people and assures them that victory will come in a short while.

    “Indeed, you have spoken and demonstrated it through your votes that you wanted a change and a rapid departure from underdevelopment. “However, your votes will count and hope will be restored in a shortest possible time.

    “All Ondo people should be resolute, determined and keep faith with the PDP and Chief Olusola Oke as we hope to get justice through the court.”

  • Mimiko’s victory is pyrrhic, says ACO

    The Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) has described the victory of Governor Olusegun Mimiko in Saturday’s election as pyrrhic.

    The Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy of ACO, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, said the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) recorded improvement in the poll compared with its previous performances in elections in Ondo State; while the fortune of the Labour Party (LP) dwindled as a result of the rejection of Mimiko by the majority of voters.

    He said: “It is clear that in contrast with the performance of Mimiko in 2007 based on which he was declared winner in 2009 by the Court of Appeal, where he polled 198,261, which represented 55 per cent of the votes cast, his Saturday’s 260,199 votes represent only 41.7 per cent of the total 624,659 votes cast, reflecting a proportional decline; meaning the opposition got majority of the votes.

    “When the election result was declared, Akure wore a mourning look until Mimiko’s supporters had to be forced out for celebration as against the spontaneous celebration of 2009 after Mimiko’s mandate was restored. This speaks volume of the authenticity of the victory.

    “The ACN gave a good showing in all the local governments, despite the massive rigging, intimidation of supporters in the party’s strongholds and cancellation of results in Idanre, Ipele and Okitipupa, among others.

    “We are poised to put the LP government on its toes from day one, pending the outcome of the meeting of the leadership of our great party, which will decide our next line of action.”

  • Youths lash PDP leaders for congratulating Mimiko

    •Say election was scientifically-rigged 

     

    The Ondo State Youth Assembly (OYA) yesterday decried Saturday’s governorship election, which declared Governor Olusegun Mimiko as the winner. It said the poll was scientifically-rigged.

    The group, which is one of those under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also condemned the national leadership of the party for congratulating Mimiko.

    It noted that the party’s national leadership had failed to study the election results and listen to the people before congratulating Mimiko, adding that it rejected the result.

    A statement by the group’s Chairman, Rasheed Elegbeleye, described the congratulatory messages as hasty and unacceptable.

    OYA alleged that the election was marred by irregularities in many local governments, including Akure South, Akoko North East, Idanre, Ilaje and Ese-Odo.

    It said: “The election was full of irregularities. In Ese-Odo Local Government Area, the leader of the ex-militants, who has been receiving N30 million every month from Mimiko for more than a year now, led a team of former militants from Balyesa State to disrupt the poll in three wards, the strongholds of the PDP in the area.

    “In Idanre, the Labour Party (LP) thugs thumb-printed ballot papers in the rural areas. There were no security men in those places for reasons we don’t know.”

    The group also alleged that while election materials were not brought to some parts of Ilaje, results of some wards where PDP won were cancelled.

    According to OYA, “some ballot boxes were snatched in Akure South and ballot papers thumb-printed by LP thugs. There was over-voting in some units in Akoko North East and most of the observers were LP supporters, such as FOMWAN.”

  • Oshiomhole congratulates Mimiko

    Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has congratulated Governor Olusegun Mimiko on his victory in Saturday’s election.

    In a statement issued in Benin City, Oshiomhole said: “I wish to congratulate Governor Olusegun Mimiko on emerging victorious in the titanic electoral contest in Ondo State on October 20.

    “From the results, it is clear that the Labour Party’s candidate is the people’s choice, just as the standard bearers of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deserve praise for giving a good account of themselves. In the circumstance, it is only natural that one person will carry the day.

    “So, I also like to congratulate the duo of Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, of ACN and Chief Olusola Oke of PDP on a gallant showing.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Governorship poll marred by irregularities, says Akeredolu

    Governorship poll marred by irregularities, says Akeredolu

    •’ACN ‘ll decide soon’

     

    The standard bearer of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), yesterday said there were irregularities in the poll.

    He added that the leadership of the party was studying the results and would take a decision soon.

    Akeredolu said in a statement he issued to reporters: “It is no longer news that the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the return of the incumbent governor as elected after the Ondo election. I am conscious of the expectation of our supporters and the public on our reaction to the outcome of the election.

    “Let me hasten to state that our party is studying the results and will take a decision on the reports of widespread irregularities from our agents and other witnesses. I have been inundated with tales of the brazen acts of violence perpetrated by thugs during the conduct of the election. I still find it difficult to believe that our security agents played the role of partisans of injustice in some areas of the state. There are, however, incontrovertible evidences of attempts at violence and actual perpetration of same against voters before, during and after the election.

    “I was informed of the arrest of the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Niran Sule, and the Caretaker Chairman of Owo Local Government, Prince Ojomo, by soldiers for being in possession of firearms and large sums of money in the morning of the election day. The news was widely circulated and was later confirmed by several people who witnessed the show of shame. I reliably gathered that the suspects were later released.

    “I also heard of the heavy monetisation of the voting process, particularly by the Labour Party (LP). I was told of the inducement of voters and violent attacks on those who refused to cooperate with them in virtually all the polling units in the state despite the intimidating presence of the security agencies deployed to protect life and property. Owo, my hometown, was practically under siege. My unit was, nevertheless, bombarded by agents of retrogression who insisted that they must make a point with my contrived defeat in my ward. The resilience of the true sons and daughters of Owo ensured that I won. Adequate security was not provided in my polling unit as in most polling units all over the state as voters were openly suborned. My people still stood firm in anticipation of a change. News of the purported defeat in my ward had been sent to the Internet even before counting commenced.

    “There were reports of the arrest of Labour Party chieftains and their sympathisers who were caught with voting materials, especially ballot papers, some few hours to the election. There was news of violence in many towns and villages in the state before, during and immediately after the election. Idanre is being mentioned for sundry reasons. Voters were prevented from voting in some areas where results were returned. Two of our supporters were reportedly killed.

    “Many eligible voters could not find their names on the register provided at the polling units where they had previously voted. In some polling units, the number of accredited voters was less than the results released. Somebody has to explain the difference.

    “In view of these glaring evidences of irregularities, which characterised the exercise, the leadership of the party will meet to decide on the next line of action.

    “I must not fail to thank the good people of Ondo State who supported our aspiration to effect quality change in the system. Their unflinching support and encouragement sustained me throughout my campaign. I cannot forget the show of love and genuine affection. The patience and great expectation of change displayed by all those who came to meet us during our visits to all the nooks and crannies of the state, coupled with the mournful mien worn by many people consequent upon the announcement of the result by INEC, will propel us to defend their interest.

    “I thank you journalists for the wide coverage given my campaign tours and the liberal spaces provided for my interviews. I express my profound gratitude to all those who provided security for me when the level of intolerance displayed became threatening.

    “Let me also seize this opportunity to alert Nigerians that agents of the Labour Party have continued to attack my supporters. A party which has truly won an election need not resort to violence soon after victory. Let me sound this note of warning to the hoodlums who terrorise innocent people that they will not be allowed to escape justice. The power of incumbency will not be strong enough to protect banditry.

    “I call on the government of Ondo State to rein in the excesses of its agents to avert crisis. Our supporters must be allowed to go about their legitimate businesses. There is a limit to what human frailty can withstand.

    “We thank our party leaders for their commitment to the project of socio-economic transformation of the region. We fervently believe that their dream will be realised in a short while. An especial mention must be made of the Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, and the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We cannot thank them enough.

    “Our other leaders such as the governors and deputy governors in ACN-controlled states, senators, members of the House of Representatives and Houses of Assembly, party leaders at units, wards, local and state levels were of tremendous assistance. We praise them for their support.

    “As a lawyer of many years, impelled by the consuming passion to chart the murky waters of Nigerian politics, let me assure my friends and supporters that I am learning very fast. My undying belief in the country is sufficient to sustain me. I am equally an unrepentant democrat. I hold onto the ideals of democracy and the rule of law tenaciously. I will continue to join others who truly believe in these precepts to fight for good governance.”

     

  • Ondo poll: Myth of Mimiko’s landslide victory

    Ever since the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Dr Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party (LP) as the winner of the October 20 governorship election in the Sunshine state, there has been a frenzy not just among the governor’s supporters but also in certain sections of the media. Many newspapers have been trying to outdo themselves in dramatising the scale of Mimiko’s purported landslide victory. The headlines have been creative, even entertaining. ‘Landslide Mimiko’. ‘Mimiko crushes ACN, PDP’. ‘How Olusegun Mimiko trounced PDP, ACN, Others’. One could go on and on. The objective is to manipulate public opinion and create the impression that Mimiko won an emphatic victory in the election. But accuracy of reporting is critical to the capacity of the press to help sustain and deepen democracy. Without accuracy of information, people could be easily misled into reaching wrong conclusions and innocently taking harmful decisions. The press must present and analyse the facts with scientific rigour devoid of partisanship. That is the only way it can effectively play its role as the watchdog of the people and facilitate the sustainable development of democracy in the country.

    Now, what do the statistics of this election tell us? The total number of registered voters was 1,546,081. The total number of accredited voters was 645,594. The total votes cast was 624,659 representing 40% of registered voters and meaning that there were 30,415 invalid votes. Governor Olusegun Mimiko of the LP was declared winner in 13 out of 18 local governments by INEC with 260,199 votes, which represents 41.6% of total votes cast. Olusegun Oke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared second winning in 2 local governments with 155, 961 votes representing 26.25% of total votes cast. Rotimi Akeredolu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was declared third winning in three local governments with 143,512 votes representing 24.15% of the total votes cast. A close analysis of these figures shows that more voters actually voted against Mimiko. Approximately 57% of total votes cast were actually against Mimiko and in favour of his opponents. He, therefore, did not get a majority of the votes and could not logically have won a landslide victory.

    To demonstrate this point further, let us examine the statistical implications of the July 14, 2012 governorship election in Edo state which returned Governor Adams Oshiomhole to office. In the Edo election, the total number of registered voters was 1,651,099. The total number of votes cast was 647,698 representing 40% of registered voters. Governor Oshiomhole scored 477,478 votes, representing 73% of total votes cast. General Airhaivbere of the PDP scored 144,235 votes, which was 22% of total votes cast. The other candidates in the election recorded 6% of total votes cast. All Governor Oshiomhole’s opponents put together polled 152,621 votes, thus trailing the comrade governor by 324,857 votes. Oshiomhole won a majority of votes cast and it is this example that can be accurately and properly described as a landslide victory.

    A perceptive analyst, Mr. Emmanuel Aziken, graphically captured this point in his clinical dissection of the October 20 Ondo state governorship election result. According to him “In the end, the people of Ondo state decided to return Dr. Mimiko apparently based on what has been largely described as his credentials in office. However, it was a narrow escape. Yesterday’s declared results gave Mimiko 260,199 votes out of a total of 624,659 voters representing about 40%. He thus did not get majority of the votes. The PDP candidate, Olusola Oke who came second with 155,961 votes and ACN’s Rotimi Akeredolu who came third with 143,512 votes together mustered enough votes that could have probably sent Mimiko packing. However, the past history of animosity between the PDP and ACN did not allow the two to form an alliance. Remarkably, Mimiko was returned to power by the Court of Appeal in 2009 which scored him 198,261 votes and his rival, Segun Agagu with 128,669. Then he had more than 55% of the votes. How the governor’s votes proportionally diminished between 2007 and 2012 is an issue for the governor and his handlers.”

    It is significant in this respect that the governor enjoys the advantages of incumbency. The PDP is crisis ridden. Believing that Mimiko was coming to join its ranks, the ACN allowed its structure to grow moribund only reviving its machinery a few months to the election. Interestingly, before Governor Mimiko headed to court in 2007 to challenge the election result, INEC had declared Dr. Segun Agagu winner with a landslide of 349,258 votes representing 53.2% of total votes cast. Mimiko was said to have scored 226,021 votes, which was 34.4% of total votes cast. Forensic investigation proved INEC’s declaration a fraud and Mimiko reclaimed his mandate. The results declared by INEC in the October 20 election will surely attract the interest of forensic auditors. The story may have just begun to unfold and the press should simply keep the people accurately informed.

  • Observers fault governorship poll

    A group of election observers, the Project Swift Count (PSC), yesterday said the Ondo State governorship election was marred by irregularities.

    The group, comprising the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Justice Development and Peace/Caritas (JDPC) and Federation of Muslim Women’s Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN) also said only 39.7 per cent of the electorate voted.

    While claiming that secrecy of the ballot was also a challenge during the election, the group said the flaws are not enough to undermine the overall result of the election.

    Briefing reporters in Abuja yesterday, the 1st Co-Chair of PSC, Dafe Akpedeye (SAN), said: “PSC estimates that the turnout for the Ondo State governorship election is 39.7 per cent, with a margin of error of 1.5 per cent. This is compared with Kebbi (51.8 per cent), Edo (44.4 per cent), Cross River (37 per cent), Sokoto (29.9 per cent), Adamawa (37.5 per cent) and Kogi (35.1 per cent).

     

     

     

  • Jonathan congratulates Mimiko

    President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated Governor Olusegun Mimiko on his declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State.

    In a statement by his spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, President Jonathan also commended the electorate of Ondo State and INEC personnel and security agencies who ensured that the elections were peacefully and successfully conducted.

    President Jonathan urged Governor Mimiko to be prepared to work even harder to justify his reelection.

    He assured Mimiko that the Federal Government will continue to engage constructively and positively with the Ondo State Government in collaborative efforts to achieve faster socio-economic development and better living conditions for people in the state and all other parts of Nigeria.

     

  • Election materials delayed in Ilaje, says Oke

    The Ondo State governorship elections went peacefully in Ilaje local government area yesterday as people of the area trooped out in their numbers to elect their choice candidate in the poll.

    The electorate turned out enmasse and stayed back at various polling units after accreditation to participate in the actual voting.

    However, there were no security men at many of the polling units, especially in the riverine areas, a situation which created tension in some of the polling units.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, after casting his vote at his Unit 005 at Ilogho in Ugbo III Ward in the Ilaje Council area, expressed disappointment at the late arrival of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and materials for the poll in the council area.

    Oke said, this was responsible for lateness in starting the accreditation and voting in many parts of the council.

    He lamented that voting did not take place in some units in the Ugbo Ward I and other areas owing to absence of polling officials.

    The PDP candidate, said although INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, meant well in the bid to transform the nation’s electoral process, there were some bad eggs in the electoral body that needed to be removed for elections to be perfect.

    He lamented that some registered voters were disenfranchised as their names could not be found on the INEC register.