The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the Osun State governorship election, Ademola Adeleke, has rejected the re-run election conducted on Thursday describing it as a mere sham.
He described the exercise as a travesty of justice and the violation of democratic values.
According to him, with the conspiracy of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies, many electorate considered to be sympathetic to him were not allowed into polling centres.
He said those that were allowed in were forced to vote for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Gboyega Oyetola.
He declared that re-run was rather the denial of the people of Osun State their mandate which they had given to him.
Adeleke’s declaration is contained in a statement issued by his campaign group, Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organisation.
It reads:
We Reject this Violent Sham Operation Called Supplementary Poll – Adeleke Campaign Organisation
We report to the whole world the brazen theft and daylight swindling of Osun people who were criminally denied their rights to vote and be voted for by an anti-people conspiracy among INEC, Security agencies and the ruling All Progressive Congress. Unprecedented travesty of justice and shattering of democractic values are ongoing in Osun State.
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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. Applying all standards, today’s supplementary poll is a non-event as all norms of electoral process are violated.
Voters are deliberately refused access to polling points at gun points. Those allowed to voting centres are forced to vote for APC. PDP party agents are arrested, beaten up and shut out of polling centres. PDP agents are barred from many units. Roads are blocked to stop voters and observers.
Journalists and election monitors are blocked from accessing many voting areas. Those who attempted gaining access are attacked by hooded thugs. PDP leaders are hounded and arrested. It was a brutal unleashing of force against unarmed election stakeholders.
We report to the whole world that in Osun today no supplementary poll took place. It was all violence and and undisguised breaching of all electoral rules .The APC is pushing violently to steal people’s mandate freely given by the oppressed people of Osun State.
We condemn this charade; we reject this violent operations called election. We dissociate ourselves from this brazen shame and sham election.
We stand on the mandate freely given to Ademola Adeleke. We will uphold the people’s mandate through all legal means. We will not succumb to fascist agents hell bent on plunging the state into chaos.
We call on the international community to monitor happenings in Osun State. A major political tragedy is underway with huge consequence for the nation.
Signed
Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organisation
