Osun Guber Poll: PDP Kicks Against APC Media Trial

The Osun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated the alleged plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to explain away its loss at the July 16 gubernatorial poll.

The Osun PDP also alleged that the APC is carrying it out through sponsorship of fake security reports, unfounded petitions and spurious election monitor reports to undermine the credibility of the elections.

In a statement signed by Oladele Bamiji, Osun PDP Media Director on behalf of the Osun PDP Caretaker Chairman, Akindele Adekunle, the PDP rebuked the APC and its state chairman, Gboyega Oyetola for its increasing resort to media trial of the petition it wilfully submitted to the election tribunal.

While wondering why the APC has suddenly developed cold feet in pursuance of its submissions before the Tribunal, the PDP posited that the APC has deployed several tactics ranging from the declaration of insurgency war on Osun people, plot to burn down Osun INEC office, spurious petition to move the tribunal sitting to Abuja and sponsorship of falsified election analysis by paid agents masquerading as election observers.

It also submitted that a media trial is an insult to the Judiciary that has demonstrated readiness to discharge its responsibilities without fear or favour.

"In a reprehensible bid to subvert the will of the people, anti-democratic agents have revived their tyrannical pens to churn out vile articles which will in future hunt them as men and women who deploy their intellect in service of anti-people agenda.

"Full of bile and hate, their anger at electoral loss has beclouded them to the reality that this is a democracy and the governorship of Osun state is not a birthright of anybody.

"We are aware that the APC's resort to media trial and the cacophony of fake election monitor reports are designed to blackmail and stampede the judiciary.

"We hasten to add that Osun people have decided and no amount of trick will subvert their will.

"As much as we do not want to join issues with anyone, we must restate our firm resolve to stand by the decision of Osun people in the July 16 governorship poll, which was resoundingly acknowledged by well over 30 observers, both local and international, to be transparent and reflect the will of the electorate.

"We are well aware of the desperation of the APC and so, not surprised that it will fancy anything that can sustain its illusion that it did not lose the election.

"The victory freely given to our party and candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has come to stay and we want to warn the APC to desist from promoting any information that could ignite violence."

The Osun PDP also advised the state governor, Adegboyega Oyetola and the Osun APC to go before the tribunal to pursue its position legally.

On Tuesday, Ismail Omipidan, the Chief Press Secretary to the Osun governor quoted a report by YIAGA Africa and stated that the APC gubernatorial candidate, Adegboyega Oyetola, did not lose the election but only lost the vote count.

Omipidan also stated that the revelation by YIAGA Africa, where it submitted that, "An analysis of the number of registered voters and the PVC collected by polling units revealed some inconsistencies in the data.

"Findings from the analysis of the Osun PVC collection data revealed that the total number of PVCs collected for 30 polling units was greater than the total number of registered voters in those polling units.

"These inconsistencies were recorded in 12 LGAs."