Governor Gboyega Oyetola has defeated both Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, the anointed aspirant of his predecessor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuff in the Saturday All Progressives Congress governorship primaries in Osun State.
Announcing the results of the exercise, Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the APC primaries committee, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said Oyetola polled 222, 169 while Adeoti and Yussuff had 12,921 and 460 respectively.
AbdulRazaq thereby declared Oyetola the winner of the party shadow elections.
Elections a sham, we’ll take legal action – Aregbesola
On Saturday evening, Minister of Interior Aregbesola in a statement by his spokesperson, Sola Fasure has described the exercise as a sham, stating that his team will explore legal means in court.
Aregbesola, who was absent on the day of the exercise, lost his ward to Oyetola who polled 309 while Adeoti had 146 votes.
The statement by Fasure partly read, “On behalf of the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, 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.
“You are urged not to take laws into your own 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.
“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. Rest assured that victory is ours.”
Election peaceful, transparent – Akere
Meanwhile, a former Commissioner during the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola, Hon. Sunday Akere while speaking with InsightMedia said the process was peaceful, transparent and showed the wish of the party members.
Akere described the pockets of issues recorded in some wards as part of democracy. He assured residents o Osun that no crisis will emanate after the process.
“I can assure you that there will not be crisis after the exercise. The Governor has given his words and I can also tell you that no crisis will be recorded after the process. Tbe choice of the people is the choice of God and Oyetola is the choice of the people.”
