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Hails Appeal court judgement on Osun guber
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has rejected the declaration, by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun State, Mr Adedapo Abioun as governor-elect of the state.
The PDP specifically described the said declaration as reckless and highly condemnable.
Addressing Journalists on Saturday in Abuja through its National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba, the party cautioned INEC to save Ogun State an imminent breakdown of Law and Order by reviewing the declaration and return made.
The leading opposition party in the country stated that INEC must realize that the people of Ogun State are already agitated and are unwilling to accept a declaration that does not reflect their expressed Will at the election.
According to Ologunagba, “the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reviewed the conduct of the Saturday, March 18, 2023 Governorship election in Ogun State and observed with concern that the result as declared by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is completely at variance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Guidelines issues by INEC for the conduct of the election.
“Specifically, from the summary of collated results at the governorship election, it is evident that our candidate was in clear lead before compromised officials of INEC connived with the defeated All Progressives Congress (APC) to cancel PDP’s thousands of winning votes and brazenly declare the Candidate of the APC, Mr. Adedapo Abiodun as winner, in violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.
“It is instructive for INEC to note that with the cancelled votes, the margin of lead between Mr. Adedapo Abiodun of the APC and the PDP Governorship Candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu is not in excess of the total number of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) collected in Polling Units where election did not hold or cancelled by INEC, citing disruption of polls.
“Whereas the number of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) collected in places where elections were not held or cancelled is 33,750, the margin of lead between the two candidates as announced by INEC Returning Officer is 13,915 thereby invalidating the Declaration and Return made by INEC.
“In such circumstance, Section 24 (3) (4) of the Electoral Act, 2022 expressly mandate INEC to appoint a new date for the conduct of the polls in the Polling Units where election did not hold or cancelled before any Return can be made.
“For clarity, Section 24 (3) (4) of the Electoral Act expressly stipulates that:
S. 24. (3) Where an election has commenced and there is reason to believe that there is or has been substantial disruption of election in a polling unit or constituency or it is impossible to continue with the election occasioned by threat to peace and security of electoral officials and materials, the Commission shall suspend the election and appoint another date for the continuation of the election or the process.
“Where the Commission appoints a substituted date in accordance with subsections (2) and (3), there shall be no return for the election until polling has taken place in the area or areas affected”.
“The hurried declaration of the APC candidate by the INEC Returning Officer as winner is therefore a declaration made contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, Regulations and Guidelines stipulated by INEC for the election.
“In situation such as this, the only option available to INEC is to exercise its powers under Section 65 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 to REVIEW the wrongful Declaration and Return made within SEVEN days”, it said.
The PDP further cited Section 65 (1) of the Electoral Act, which provides that; “The decision of the returning officer shall be final on any question arising from or relating to— (a) unmarked ballot paper; (b) rejected ballot paper; and (c) declaration of scores of candidates and the return of a candidate:
“Provided that the Commission shall have the power within seven days to review the declaration and return where the Commission determines that the said declaration and return was not made voluntarily or was made contrary to the provisions of the law, regulations and guidelines, and manual for the election”.
The party said, therefore, that “It is therefore reckless and highly condemnable that INEC would cancel PDP’s winning votes and hurriedly Declare and Return the defeated candidate of the APC as winner, in gross violation of the Law and total disregard for the Will of the people as expressed at the election.
“The PDP cautions INEC to save Ogun State an imminent breakdown of Law and Order by reviewing the Declaration and Return made.
“INEC must realize that the people of Ogun State are already agitated and are unwilling to accept a declaration that does not reflect their expressed Will at the election”, it said.
Meanwhile, the PDP has commended Friday’s judgement of the Court of Appeal which pronounced its candidate and Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke as the validly elected governor of the state.
