The Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), Hashim Abioye, has officially announced that all 30 chairmanship candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were victorious in the local government election held on Saturday. In a brief video shared with our correspondent, Abioye, accompanied by OSSIEC commissioners, also confirmed that the PDP won all 332 councillorship seats in the election.
Abioye congratulated the candidates, stating, “Based on the results gathered from the field, the PDP candidates in all 332 wards emerged as winners. I, as the returning officer of the commission, hereby declare them elected as councilors in their respective wards. Certified true copies of the results are available upon request.”
He further declared that the PDP won all 30 local government chairmanship positions across Osun State, adding, “As the Chief Returning Officer of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, I officially declare the following individuals as duly elected chairpersons of their areas.”
APC accuses OSSIEC of manipulating results
Reacting to the announcement, Kola Olabisi, the Director of Media for the Osun All Progressives Congress (APC), accused Abioye of fabricating the election results, claiming that no election took place in the state. Olabisi, speaking to Sunday PUNCH, criticized OSSIEC for its mismanagement and claimed the commission’s actions made Osun a laughing stock.
“Where did these results come from? Everyone knew that no election was held in Osun today. Yet, OSSIEC has gone ahead and fabricated results, making Osun an object of ridicule,” Olabisi said. “This is illegal and will not hold up. No elections were held in the council areas, and yet, some people in the Osun Government House invented these results and announced them. This is a mockery of democracy, and the constitution will ensure that this farce does not stand.”
Ad-hoc staff arrested amid low turnout
Police arrested several ad-hoc staff members employed by OSSIEC in Ibokun, Ila, and Ejigbo LGAs. In addition to these arrests, many polling units saw little to no activity, with many voters returning home disheartened due to the absence of election officials.
In Osogbo, the state capital, streets were notably quiet, with only a few vehicles on the road. Police were stationed at key locations, conducting thorough checks, while businesses remained closed.
Violence, death in Ilesa
A man was killed in violence at Irojo, Ilesa, where security forces later removed the body. According to a senior security source, the deceased had charms on his body, and the cause of death was unclear. However, it was reported that political thugs had clashed, possibly leading to the death.
At several other polling units in Ede North LGA, such as Ward 5, Unit 5, Alusekere, Owode-Ede, and Ward 4, Unit 17, Cele, voting was delayed or absent entirely, as voters expressed frustration over the missing ad-hoc staff and voting materials.
Adeleke votes, describes election as peaceful
Osun Governor, Ademola Adeleke, who voted at his polling unit in Ede, praised the election as peaceful. He emphasized the importance of grassroots democracy and encouraged citizens to participate actively. After casting his vote, Adeleke commended OSSIEC for its efficient conduct of the election.
OSSIEC chairman responds to Police actions
Abioye, the OSSIEC chairman, defended the election’s progress, stating that reports indicated the process was smooth and peaceful despite the false claims from the police. He acknowledged delays in the arrival of materials at some polling units but attributed the setbacks to the intimidation and arrests of OSSIEC officials. He stressed that the commission had enough materials and that voting was proceeding in areas where it had been delayed.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Osun State Police Command regarding the arrests and the Ilesa killing were unsuccessful, as calls to the Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, went unanswered.
Punch
