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Tag: Osun State

  • Adeleke vows to contest results in court

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the just concluded governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, vowed yesterday to use both physical and legal means to upturn the result of the poll in his favour.

    Adeleke claimed at a press conference in his hometown, Ede, that he was robbed at the polls, and said no effort would be spared to seek redress.

    The PDP flag bearer urged the people not to be low spirited, adding that the defeat was a temporary setback which would become a victory in the end.

    The senator said he sympathised with those that were wounded during the election, promising that those arrested would be released soon.

    He also expressed gratitude to domestic and international observers for their impartial coverage of the election allegedly marred by violence, malpractices and irregularities.

    Adeleke added that the people of Osun must remain vigilant but calm.

    Osun PDP Chairman, Hon. Soji Adagunodo, also alleged that the gubernatorial election was rigged and accompanied with violence.

    Adagunodo lauded Nigerians and members of the media for their enthusiasm and the passion demonstrated in support of democracy.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, announced Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Party (APC) as duly elected and winner of the rerun election after it had declared the Sept. 22 governorship election inconclusive.

  • Osun victory shows APC is preferred party – Obaseki

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has said that the victory of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Osun State showed the APC is the preferred party in the country.

    Obaseki in his congratulatory message to governor-elect of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola said he was delighted at the hard-fought victory.

    Read Also:Suspected cultist nabbed in Edo State

    The Edo governor said, “Your victory provides a fillip to the growing profile of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the preferred political party in the country.

    “I have unwavering faith in your pedigree as an astute and experienced administrator and manager, to consolidate on the foundation laid by the outgoing governor, His Excellency, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and take Osun State to greater heights”.

  • Osun Guber election: Buhari congratulates APC, Oyetola

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Governor-elect of Osun State, Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola, for winning the keenly contested governorship election.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, extended warm felicitations to the state and national campaign teams that worked assiduously to guarantee the victory at the polls.

    He also commended the outgoing Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for eight years of steadfastness and service to his people.

    “Thank you Osun State for supporting our good governance agenda by re-electing the APC. I assure you that we will continue to work for the progress and prosperity of the state and the nation,” he said.

    The President urged the Governor-elect to always remember that the electorate expects unreserved commitment to delivering results that directly impact their lives and families.

    President Buhari affirmed that the successful election in the State further strengthens the democratic culture in the country, extolling INEC for, once again, making the country proud.

    He commended the maturity, loyalty and courage of all contestants in putting in their best to be elected to serve the state, urging them to seek redress in court, where they disagree with the outcome.

  • Why I shunned PDP’s offer for APC’s, by Omisore

    The candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the Osun State governorship election, Sen. Iyiola Omisore, has given an insight into why he rejected the offer by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to cooperate with it in today’s rerun election.

    Omisore and SDP leaders revealed in a number of communique that PDP leaders and the party’s candidate, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, are ‘not trustworthy, reliable and dependable in their past dealings’ with them.

    They added that judging by many standards; Gboyega Oyetola is a far better candidate than Adeleke who will likely do well for Osun State.

    The communiques were issued after meetings of leaders in each zone of the state including Iwo, Ijesa land, Ikirun and Ile-Ife.

    The SDP leaders recalled how Sen. Adeleke, with the collaboration of the National Chairman of the party, Chief Uche Secondus, “masterminded the conduct of another congress which rubbished the earlier congress already approved by the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) which favoured Otunba Omisore.”

    According to them, Adeleke has confirmed at different times as somebody that cannot be trusted judging by his previous alleged betrayals.

    The incidents, they claimed, include his initial agreement not to throw his hat into the governorship ring when he approached Omisore for his senatorial ambition; an agreement to have at least one legislative assistant ‘selected through each of the aspirants that stood down for him on which he reneged till date and alleged failure to respect the agreement to compensate Dr Akin Ogunbiyi with the deputy governorship slot, even when the election was at sight.”

    Now that the election would be over, the SDP leaders wondered how such a man can honour any agreement made.

    The SDP leaders also expressed the fear that the PDP governorship candidate would most likely be prosecuted for ‘aiding and abetting’ before he is sworn in or even be impeached for frivolous reasons by the House of Assembly shortly after his swearing-in.

    Additionally, the leaders viewed the control of the Federal Government by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as an advantage, stressing that the PDP is the ‘architect of the present predicament.’ They posited that joining forces with the party can spell doom for the SDP.

    They also stated that numerous leaders within the PDP will not allow the party to function well because “too many cooks spoil the dish (broth).’

    They added: “Because of the fact that we want the best for our people in Osun State, we see Oyetola as a more capable and qualified candidate.”

    They also posited that they would enjoy more possible positions and privileges in the APC government than in a PDP government.

    “The APC is a more reliable party than the PDP. For instance, the APC promised Isiaka Adeleke the senatorial ticket of Osun West and it was honoured unlike the promise made by the PDP to Dr Ogunbiyi which it reneged on.”

    Based on the above, the leaders concluded that the APC would be more beneficial to the state and SDP members.

    The communiques were signed by virtually all the leaders in the zones.

  • Osun Election: US applauds INEC over inconclusive verdict, rerun 

    …urges victor, loser to be magnanimous, patient in victory, defeat

     

    Government of the United States of America has okayed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s decision to declare the last Saturday governorship elections in Osun state inconclusive.

    The United States however urged winner in the Thursday rerun to be magnanimous in victory and loser to be patient in defeat.

    American Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, who said this in Kaduna on Wednesday, expressed support for the election rerun, noting that the rerun is vital because every vote need to count given the fact that there was almost 353 vote margin between the two leading candidates, while over 3,000 votes could not be casted.

    Symington, who was represented by the Charge’d Affairs in the American Embassy, Mr. David Young, urged the people of Osun state to vote peacefully and accept the results of the elections peaceful as well.

    He urged the victors to be magnanimous in victory and who ever loses to be gracious in defeat.

    “We want to commend the people of Osun State for their peaceful vote last Saturday it was very positive for democracy, the people went to the polls in such large numbers about 700,000 voters, which is certainly an expression of democratic freedom that we applaud. We also applaud the peaceful contest that took place, the work of security operatives that guaranteed the peaceful votes.

    “I want to say that the electoral commission did a good job in terms of what we saw. The decision of INEC to go ahead and have a rerun in seven polling units is the one that we respect. Given the fact that there was almost 353 vote margin between the two candidates and a couple of a thousand votes were not able to be casted. Certainly this is a decision that makes sense.

    “We want to say that for the voters, through no fault of their own were not able to vote, it is important in a democracy that every persons vote is sacred and is allowed to count. Clearly as we go forward with the votes Thursday in a democracy one side wins and one side loses. We want to emphasize that the people vote peacefully in the conduct of the election and accept the results peaceful as well.

    “We want to urge the victors to be magnanimous in victory and who ever loses to be gracious in defeat. This is part of democracy and democratic freedom and going forward it is important for the Nigerian people to be free of vote buying in a contest that is peaceful.”

    The American Ambassador, who spoke at the launch of women and girls child empowerment of Magviole Vocational Center, also urged Nigerian to plan for potential population explosion in the next few decades by educating and providing the youth with skills that would create jobs for them and get them engaged.

    “With Nigerian population growth in the next 30 years, it is important for the country to realize that it has to invest in children and I think focusing on education, health, investment and making sure these are actually funded. We also saw today with the Magviole vocation center here in Kaduna that it is so important for the young people to get jobs, training; skills that can help them move forward and create a better future for them.

    “This is something that requires focus from the entire Nigerian society and recognizing that you have to think long term to address these challenges.”

    He stayed that US has been very much involved in funding health and education, throughout Nigeria citing the antiretroviral drugs provided for almost 1 million Nigerian suffering from HIV/AIDS in collaboration with the Nigerian government. “We are proud to help fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, the polio cases and we are hoping to continue with these in the future.”

  • Osun rerun poll: Government declares Thursday public holiday

    The Osun State Government has declared Thursday  September 27 a public holiday throughout the state.

    In a short statement by the Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Sola Fasure, the state government said the holiday will enable workers participate in the rerun governorship election holding  in seven polling units of Ife-North, Ife-South, Orolu and Osogbo Local Government Areas of the State.

  • Osun elections: INEC is in order, says Oyegun

    Immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) was in order to declare Osun State governorship elections inconclusive.

    Chief Oyegun said INEC acted in line with the Electoral Act.

    Oyegun who with newsmen in Benin City said the APC led federal government should be commended for allowing democracy to prevail.

    He said Osun people freely expressed their will and ensured that the votes count.

    The former Edo governor also appealed to Osun voters to reward the good works of the APC on Thursday for ensuring free, fair and credible election in their state.

    Read Also: Oyegun raises alarm over circulating fake news

    Chief Oyegun explained that he stacked with President Muhammadu Buhari because he represents the light house the nation needs at the moment for economic growth.

    “In a country that lacked heroes, Buhari stands out. We must represent the very positive traits of integrity honesty in him; I believe that is what the nation needs now.

    “Buhari is that light house that we need in a society that is enveloped in darkness of corruption, lack of standard, ethics and morality.

    “He may not be perfect like any other human being but he is what the nation needs at the moment to ensure steady growth.”

  • Osun 2018: EU, UK, US commend INEC, Osun people

    The Missions of the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States have commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the people of Osun state for last Saturday peaceful poll.

    In a statement on Tuesday, they all urged the would be winner after the Thursday’s rerun to be magnanimous in victory.

    Read Also: Foreign missions sues for peaceful rerun in Osun

    The statement which was jointly signed by the three partners, reads: “We commend the people of Osun for voting peacefully, the Independent National Electoral Commission for the improved organisation of the election, and security services for their conduct.

    “We urge that all continue to support a peaceful, free, fair, and credible completion of the process as INEC re-runs the election in seven polling units where — through no fault of their own — voters were not able to cast their votes and have them counted last Saturday. We stress the importance that the re-run should take place without any violence, intimidation, or vote buying.

    “Whoever wins the election after Thursday’s vote should be magnanimous in victory, and whoever loses should be gracious in defeat.”

  • APC shift presidential primary again, now holds Sept. 28

    For the second time in less than 24 hours, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has again shifted its presidential primary to Friday, September 28 to avoid a clash with the rerun election in Osun State.

    The party had on Sunday night announced a shift of the primary earlier scheduled for Tuesday, September 25, 2018 to Thursday, September 27, 2018 apparently to pave the way for President Muhammadu Buhari to be part of the primaries which will be conducted through direct primary.

    Read Also:PDP vote buying mechanism, a threat to democracy says APC

    The President who is the sole presidential aspirant of the party is expected to address the General Assembly of the United Nations on September 25.

    In a two-paragraph statement, the Acting National Publicity Secretary said the shift is to allow all registered members across the country to participate in the primary.

    “In view of the Osun State Governorship rerun election which has been scheduled for Thursday, September 27th, 2018, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) has now rescheduled the presidential primary election to Friday, September 28th, 2018.

    “This is to avoid a clash in dates with the Osun State Governorship rerun election and enable all registered Party members in all thirty-six states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) participate in the exercise”

  • Osun Decides 2018: Agoro commends Ooni for not voting

    Dr. Olapade Agoro, Presidential candidate of the National Action Council (NAC), on Sunday hailed the decision of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, not to cast his vote in the last Saturday’s governorship election in Osun state.

    There were media reports that Oba Ogunwusi did not vote despite the fact there is a polling unit by the palace, because he saw all the governorship candidates in the Osun State as his subjects.

    Speaking with newsmen in Ibadan on Sunday, Agoro commended the revered Yoruba traditional ruler, describing his action as “very laudable and respectable”.

    The NAC Presidential candidate maintained that what the Ooni Ogunwusi did was honouring the throne of Oduduwa and the whole of Yoruba race.

    According to him, “The Ooni ‘risa, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi has placed himself on the side of honour. The position of the Ooni of Ife is above all political positions. The Ooni should be a rally point for all sons and daughters of Oodu, irrespective of political inclinations.

    Read Also: Osun Decides 2018: Aregbesola describes election as impressive, peaceful

    “The Ooni has been doing well since he ascended the exalted throne. He has been promoting the rich culture of the Yoruba race above political considerations. So far, so good,he has been doing good job on the throne”.

    Agoro also felicitate with Ooni Ogunwusi on the forthcoming Olojo Festival that will be celebrated in Ile – Ife, advising the monarch not to allow politicians to use the traditional festival for political campaign.

    He urged the Ooni of Ife to promote the Olojo Festival  into a trado – cultural festival that will be celebrated beyond the confines of Ile-Ife.