The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has alleged that votes counted for the incumbent governor of Osun State, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola were more than the total number of accredited voters in many polling units of the state.
Ogbeni Aregbesola was reacting amidst allegations of widespread irregularities that characterised today’s governorship primaries conducted to pick a flag bearer for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. The Minister is a member of the party.
A statement by Sola Fasure (Media Adviser) for and on behalf of the Minister, however, expressed gratitude to party members for heeding the call made earlier to conduct themselves peacefully while participating in the intra-party election.
The statement titled: “Hold Your Head High”, however, described the election as a sham. “We have received and continue to receive 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
Ogbeni Aregbesola however urged members of the party to continue to maintain their cool and calm as he would take a definite position on the election soon. “Be not downcast, be not agitated. Hold your head high. We are still receiving and studying all these reports and will take a definitive position on them”.
He asked members of the party not to take laws into their hands, assuring that he would explore all peaceful and legal means for addressing the perceived irregularities 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. Be rest assured that victory is ours”, the statement concluded.
