Osun poll: we are examining results, we may go to tribunal, says APC. governors’ forum congratulates Adeleke

By Ola Taiwo

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has hinted about the possibility of it going to the election petition tribunal to challenge victory of the Governor Ademola Adeleke in the last Saturday governorship election in the state 

Adeleke, the incumbent governor of the state who contested the election on the platform of the Accord Party had been declared the winner of the election by the electoral body after polling a total of 511, 067 votes as against 444, 815 of the candidate of the APC, Bola Oyebamiji, who emerged second.

The Osun APC leadership, in a statement issued by its  spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, said it was examining the results recorded across the 332 wards in the state before determining its next course of action.

The leadership said the declaration of a winner does not necessarily mark the end of the electoral process, as parties dissatisfied with the outcome have constitutionally recognised avenues for seeking redress.

“An election cannot be said to have been concluded without having explored all these constitutionally allowed legal opportunities,” it said

The party said it would consult its legal team and consider its professional advice before deciding whether to file a petition before the election tribunal.

The APC leadership while stating that the party remained committed to the rule of law, justice and fairness said that any decision taken by the party would be within the confines of the law.

The leadership commended APC members and supporters across Osun State for their loyalty, resilience and contributions to the party’s activities throughout the election period.

It however urged the supporters to remain calm and avoid confrontations, particularly in response to alleged provocative actions by members of the ruling party.

The party appealed to the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the protection of its members and supporters, as it alleged that some of the supporters had been subjected to harassment by opposition supporters.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has congratulated Governor Adeleke on his victory at the poll 

The forum, in a statement signed by its Chairman and Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, said the outcome of the election was a reflection of the governor’s achievements and personal appeal among the voters.

 “The Forum acknowledges the strides and personality of the Governor, which readily paid off at the keenly contested election.” the statement reads.

The NGF which noted that the level of interest generated by the off-cycle election demonstrated the resilience of Nigeria’s democratic process commended the people of Osun State for turning out in large numbers to exercise their civic responsibility.

The forum also acknowledged the contributions of opposition political parties and candidates to the electoral process, saying that their participation remained vital to the growth and strengthening of democracy.

It commended security agencies for preventing the violence witnessed in the days preceding the election from escalating, thereby creating a relatively secure environment for voters to cast their ballots.

“The NGF commends the security agencies for curtailing the initial trend of violence in the days leading to the election and creating a secure condition for the exercise to proceed without much incidents,” the statement reads

The forum lauded President Bola Tinubu whom they said made a statesmanlike approach to the election by balancing his responsibilities as leader of the ruling party with his role as President and father of the nation.

The givernors expressed confidence that Adeleke would use his second term to consolidate the gains recorded by his administration and further improve the lives of residents across the state.

“We are confident that HE Ademola Adeleke will continue to build on the successes of his first term in the overall interest of the people of Osun State,” the governors said.