PDP wins in Ife central rerun, urges prosecution of electoral offenders
The Peoples Democratic Party {PDP} has emerged winner in Saturday’s rerun election for Ife Central state constituency election in Osun State.
Besides, the state chapter of PDP has asked the state Police Command to make public the identities of hoodlums that were arrested for alleged snatching of ballot boxes and voters cards during the Saturday rerun election for Ife Central State Constituency.
The party polled a total of 5,510 votes to beat the closest rival, Accord Party {AP} that scored 4,799 votes while the All Progressives Congress {APC} came third with 4474 votes.
Fresh election was ordered by the Independent National Electoral Commission {INEC} yesterday in two units following the snatching of ballot boxes at Agbedegbe Street, Moore Ojaja Unit 02 and Moore Ojaja Unit 03.
During the Sunday rerun election, PDP had 82 votes; Accord, 78; and APC 26.
According to the Returning Officer, Dr. Francis Oladimeji, 95,114 voters registered for the election, 15,312 were accredited, 15,312 votes were cast; while 15,008 valid votes were counted and 304 votes were rejected.
The bye-election conducted by the Commission was to fill the vacant seat of Ife Central Constituency at Osun State House of Assembly.
The seat became vacant following the death of Mr. Oladejo Makinde in December last year. He was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. After the announcement of Sunday’s result, supporters of the PDP went into celebration.
Speaking after his victory, PDP’s candidate, chief Dipo Eluwole said, “This is a victory well deserved. It’s the beginning of progress and development in Ile-Ife and Osun State as a whole.”
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party was in the lead with 5,428 after the Saturday’s election but recorded additional 82 votes in the Sunday’s polls. Accord Party {AP} then scored 4,721 and scored 78 more votes on Sunday while the All Progressives Congress {APC} had 4,448 on Saturday and later recorded additional 26 votes after the Sunday’s election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission {INEC} declared the rerun election for Ife area as inconclusive following the cancellation of election in two units.
The Returning Officer for the election, Mr. Francis Oladimeji said, the inconclusiveness of the election was sequel to the cancellation of election in two polling units at Agbedegbe Street, Moore Ojaja Unit 02 and Moore Ojaja.
He said that the number of accredited voters in the two units is 872 while the margin between the first two candidates is 710 by INEC’s record.
According to INEC’s regulation, where the number of cancelled votes is more than the margin between the two leading candidates, the commission cannot announce the winner.
As a result, the Commission ordered that election in the cancelled units be held yesterday {Sunday} between 8am and 2pm. The final result is yet to be released as at the time of filing this report.
However, from the declared results, PDP led with 5,428, Accord Party came second with 4,721 while APC polled 4,448.
Accord Party won in Ilare III, Iremo III, Iremo IV and Akarabata wards, while APC won in Ilare I & Iremo I wards
PDP won in Ilare II, Ilare IV, Iremo II, Iremo V and Moore Ojaja wards.
Meanwhile, Osun state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party {PDP} has asked the state Police Command to make public the identities of hoodlums that were arrested for alleged snatching of ballot boxes and voters cards during the Saturday rerun election for Ife Central State Constituency.
In addition, the party in a statement issued yesterday in Osogbo by its spokesperson, Prince Diran Odeyemi, said PDP was demanding details of those apprehended because the party had earlier before the Saturday election accused the ruling All Progressives Congress {APC} of importing thugs from Lagos to disrupt the election.
Apart from parading the suspects, PDP asked that they should be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others that may be planning to engage in similar act in future elections in the state.
It would be recalled that seven persons were said to have been arrested during the election and later taken to the state police command in Osogbo,Osun state capital.
The party said, “We expect police leadership to deal decisively with those arrested over attempt to disrupt polls on Saturday. First, they should be paraded and their sponsors unmasked, and dragged before court for prosecution.
“This is important because 2018 election is around the corner and the sinking party will want to do everything to stay afloat. The attempt to snatch ballot boxes we believe was a dress rehearsal for what the sinking party may have in stock for 2018,” the statement said.
The party commended the people of Ife and the police authorities in the state for their commitment that culminated in the successful conduct of the rerun election.
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1 Comments
Apathy on the part of voters is on the increased, 95,114 registered candidates while only 15,315 candidates voted….. Something is wrong some where, the candidates should learn how to mobilize voters genuinely with their well conceived party manifestos and not induce voters with money
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