PDP’s Adeleke declares self ‘governor-elect’, rejects election re-run

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate of the Osun State governorship election, Ademola Adeleke, has declared himself the governor-elect of the southwest state.

He described the ongoing rerun election in seven units in the state as a ‘coup ‘.

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Adeleke, who spoke with the Punch on the telephone, said that supporters of the PDP were being denied access to ballot papers in the governorship rerun election.

“What is happening in Osun State now is not an election. What we have is a coup. That is what we are witnessing now.

“Our supporters are being harassed and are not allowed to vote at all. Let the whole world know that this is not democracy, ” he said.

Adeleke also rejected today’s re-run election as a “charade” which must not be allowed to stand.

Mr Adeleke’s position, disclosed in a statement by his campaign office Thursday afternoon, was hinged on the widespread reports of voter intimidation and other forms of violence which marred the re-run election, especially in Orolu Local Government Area.

“The whole world is witnessing a charade in the name of election, a deliberate effort at imposition of a discredited leadership on the suffering people of Osun State through undisguised brutal force,” the campaign said. “Applying all standards, today’s supplementary poll is a non-event as all norms of electoral process are violated.”

There have been reports that the re-run election has neither been free nor fair since polls opened across the four local government areas identified for the exercise after the main process on Saturday was declare inconclusive.

Amongst those who have reported violence from security agencies and suspected APC thugs are journalists, observers and voters believed loyal to the PDP.

Mr Adeleke came first in the election on Saturday, but his thin margin of just 353 votes over his closest rival Gboyega Oyetola compelled INEC to declare the election inconclusive and ordered a re-run among the participating parties. About 2,637 out of 3,498 registered voters collected their voters’ cards and would be eligible to participate in today’s exercise across four LGAs.

Voting is scheduled to close at 2:00 p.m. across the local governments, which include Orolu, Osogbo, Ife-North and Ife South.

Premium Times/Punch/AsbGist NG