The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has floored the All Progressives Congress (APC) to win the Osun State governorship election held on Saturday with Senator Ademola Adeleke emerging as the governor-elect of the State.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the PDP polled a total of 403,371 while the APC polled 375027.
Adeleke defeated incumbent Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to emerge governor-elect.
The keenly contested guber polls recorded a pocket of violence and a PDP returning officer Jide Jooba who was shot dead by hoodlums.
The election process which started at about 8.30 am ended at about 2.30 pm as provided for in the 2022 Electoral Act.
Signals that the PDP was going to win emerged when the Presidential candidate of the APC, former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu jetted out of the state to attend a meeting with APC speakers where he promised to make them active members of his campaign organization.
In Ekiti, Tinubu stayed till the final whistle was blown before making his grand entry into Lagos, but in his Osun ancestral State, the strong man of Lagos politics politely excused himself from the failure of his party.
Most observers described it as one the safest as the apex electoral body made effective use of BVAS and violence was minimal.
The Anti-graft agency, the EFCC was on ground and a few agents of the APC were arrested for trying to induce voters with money.
INEC declares PDP’s Adeleke Osun governor-elect
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke as Osun’s governor-elect.
Adeleke defeated his closest challenger, Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
The PDP’s candidate secured 403,371 votes defeating Oyetola, who trailed behind with 375,027 votes.
INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe declared Adeleke the winner.
According to the result announced by INEC on Sunday, Adeleke won in 17 local government areas (LGAs) of the State.
Oyetola however won in 13 LGAs.
Osun Guber Election: Party stalwarts, electorate commend peaceful exercise
Despite pockets of violence recorded in the election, party stalwarts and the electorate have said the election was largely peaceful and commended peaceful exercise.
The Deputy Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Prince Kola Adewusi, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on how peaceful the ongoing Osun gubernatorial election was conducted.
Adewusi made the commendation at Enuwa Square, Ilode 1, Polling Units 001, Ife East, on Saturday in Ile-Ife.
He said that Nigeria was growing and continuously improving on its performance from past elections.
The PDP deputy governorship candidate lauded INEC, adding that the commission had so far, performed excellently well.
“The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and everything is running smoothly, in fact I didn’t spend more than a minute before I got accredited and voted,’’ he said.
On his part, former National Secretary of PDP, Prof. Wale Ladipo, who doubles as Chairman, Osun PDP Campaign Team for Sen. Ademola Adeleke said that the turnout was very encouraging in Ife.
Ladipo who acknowledged the work INEC had put into the conduct of the election said that he believed the election would be free, fair and credible.
In the same vein, Rep. Rotimi Makinde, a former member of the House Representatives on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said that the election was peaceful.
Makinde said that the way the electorate conducted themselves showed that the end would justify the means.
According to him, people are not ready to cause any trouble because things are changing and people are now wise.
Another voter, Mr Joseph Oyewale, commended the present administration for improving the way of voting, saying that there was a transformation in Nigeria.
Oyewale said that everything was going on well as there was no violence but a hitch-free process so far.
“The people are conducting themselves well just as the machines and in fact every election material is not giving the staff any issues, meaning that this election will end excellently.’’
Osun Election: ICPC arrests suspected vote buyers
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), says its operatives on election monitoring duties arrested three persons suspected of vote buying in the Osun gubernatorial election.
Spokesperson for ICPC, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
She said one Dapo Olayode was arrested by the commission’s teams at Ife North and Central Local Government Councils, Osun East Senatorial District, precisely at Polling Unit 7, Iremo Ward IV.
According to the statement, Olayode was arrested with a list containing the names of voters while an Android phone was also collected from him.
“At Egbedore Local Government, Osun West Senatorial District, precisely in Polling Unit 003, Ward 10, Osunbukola Junction, Kamorudeen Nafisat, a female and Ojuade Musbau Olaniyi, a male were arrested by another team for alleged vote buying.
“Items collected from the duo included one Android Phone and a notebook containing a list of names of voters.
“A third team was attacked by a popular thug and his gang while attempting to effect the arrest of a vote buyer.
“The attack was at Polling Unit 1, Ward 7, opposite Polaris Bank, in front of Oba’s Palace, Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Area,” Ogugua said.
She explained that the suspected vote buyer was also caught with a list containing names of 100 people expecting to be paid N5,000 each.
Ogugua said its team leader sustained serious injury in the fracas that ensued, but the team was able to retrieve the book containing the list of 100 voters.
“The statements of all the suspects are being taken under caution, and investigations are still ongoing,” she stated.
Osun election: Group lauds INEC for providing devices for PWDs
The Campaign for Equal Voting Access for Persons with Disabilities (EVAPWDs), has commended INEC for providing Brailles, Magnifying glasses and other devices for PWDs in the Osun governorship election.
Mr David Anyaele, Chairman of EVAPWD, made the commendation in a preliminary statement on Saturday in Abuja.
Anyaele also commended INEC for the priority-voting given to elderly, pregnant and nursing mothers and PWDs and the significant number of accessible polling units provided by INEC.
“We received and reviewed reports from our observers across the three senatorial zones of the election management compliance to the provisions of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act.
“Section 54 of the Electoral Act 2022 on INEC Framework on Access and Participation of Persons with Disabilities and the Nigeria Constitution 1999 as amended.
“EVAPWDs is impressed to observe that marginalised populations, the aged, nursing mothers and pregnant women and persons with disabilities were offered priority voting in most of the polling units observed.
“Our observation shows that INEC sited a significant number of PUs along the roadside and dropped the ballot boxes on the floor, whilst a good number of other PUs were sited in buildings with access for those on wheelchairs.
“”We commend polling officials for their efforts in this regard,” he said.
The groups chairman said that it observed the deployment of Braille guides, shade and magnifying glasses in a significant number of the PUs visited.
This, he said, was commendable as INEC had made observable improvement in this regard, however, he called for training of its ad-hoc staff on the use of form EC40H.
According to him, the form EC40H is readily available, but the knowledge of INEC ad-hoc staff around the use of this document remains weak, even as voting guides for the deaf in a significant number of the PUs were not seen
He expressed dissatisfaction also that quite a significant number of polling units were not accessible because they were sited across gutters or in schools with staircases and high pavements.
He said notably, PU 9, Ward 3 in Boripe LGA were not accessible for the physically challenged as they were too high and filled with steps and grasses.
“Also, in PU 4, Ward 10, Ede South LGA, PU 8, Ward 5, Ede South, PU 8, Ward 10 in Odo- Otin, and PU 5, Ward in Osogbo were sited across gutters.
“Also not accessible is PU 2, Ward 9, and its environs in Aiyedire LGA were sited across gutters or in schools with steps and high pavements.
“And what this means is that voters with physical disability will struggle much more to cast their votes,’ he said.
He commended the commission for the early arrival of its officials and lauded the good voter turnout at the various polling units it observed across the state.
He also lauded the adequately provided security at the polls and approachability of the security personnel.
Anyaele said the group was still observing the election exercise and would issue a post election statement, analyzing the general conduct of INEC for persons with disabilities’ participation.
Vote buying: Codes, coupons used to get voters’ commitment in Osun election — CSOs
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room said codes and coupons were used to extract commitments from voters in the Osun governorship election, as opposed to the blatant money exchanging hands in Ekiti Election.
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSO) made this known in its Second Preliminary Statement on the Osun Governorship Election.
The convener of the CSOs, Ene Obi, said while the group was observing the election, it observed another means of vote trading.
she added that vote trading was recorded in most of the areas observed, particularly outside Osogbo.
“Knowledge of voting procedures and civic education of voters was very poor.
“Voting cubicles in many of the polling units were not positioned to ensure secrecy of the ballots, making it possible for voters to flash their votes to other people.
“There was open negotiation of buying and selling of votes well-coordinated by the polling agents in many of the polling units.
” There were no complaints from any of them against each other.
“Codes and coupons were used to extract commitments from voters as opposed to the blatant money exchanging hands observed in the Ekiti State Governorship Election.”
Obi, however, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines functioned credibly Well.
She said that so far, commendably, Osun had witnessed a high rate of Permanent Voters Card collection, recording a total of 1,518,303 as reported by INEC.
Obi said that voting started peacefully, not showing any indications of the apprehension that had trailed the days preceding the election.
She said that Situation Room received reports from its network of observers of early arrival of materials and INEC officials in most of the polling units which led to early commencement of voting.
“The BVAS were deployed according to the number of registered voters.
” In polling units with over 1,000 voters, INEC kept to its promise to deploy two BVAS machines. The machines functioned credibly well.
“There were issues with the fingerprint verifications, however, the facial capture worked very well recording approximately one minute for accreditation and voting in Osogbo and in outside areas, it took longer.”
Obi said that the group also observed there was adequate presence of security personnel across the state and deployed across most of the polling units visited.
She added that security personnel were friendly and professional in their approach and a number of them complained of not receiving their allowances ahead of the election.
She said that political party agents were present in most of the polling units observed – a minimum of four party agents and maximum of six.
Obi said priority voting was given to the elderly and persons with disabilities in most of the polling units.
She said that from Situation Room’s observations, no violence had been recorded and the numbers of people who came out was encouraging.
She said that the group commended the people of Osun for coming out early to cast their votes, especially the elderly who waited in queues patiently.
Osun Poll: YIAGA Africa lauds INEC
An Election Monitoring Group, YIAGA Africa has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the early arrival of polling officials and materials at the Osun governorship election on Saturday.
Addressing newsmen on the group’s Mid-day situational reports on Saturday, Dr Hussain Abdu, the Board Chairman of the group, said by 9:00 a.m., 89 per cent of the polling units in the state had begun accreditation and voting.
He said: “Yiaga Africa WTV observed the early arrival of polling officials and materials at polling units across the state.
“As of 7:30 a.m., Yiaga Africa WTV observers reported that INEC officials had arrived at 78 per cent of polling units.
“By 8:30 a.m., 41 per cent of polling units had commenced accreditation and voting and by 9:00 a.m. 89 per cent of polling units had commenced accreditation and voting.
“This, however, increased to 96 per cent by 9:30 a.m. This is consistent with Yiaga Africa’s observation findings in the 2018 elections, where 91 per cent of polling units opened by 9:00 a.m.”
He also said that the group observed the deployment of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) across the polling units visited which functioned optimally.
Abdu also commended INEC for the deployment of assistive materials in polling units.
He said the Braille ballot guides were observed in 60 per cent of the polling units, while the PWD poster was seen in 71 per cent of polling units and PWD voter information and statistics were seen in 79 per cent of polling units.
Abu, however, said that the group received reports of acts of alleged vote buying perpetrated by agents of the APC and PDP in some polling units.
“For instance, PU 009, Akinlalu Commercial Grammar School, Ward 01 in Ife North, the party agents strategically positioned themselves by the voting cubicle to see how voters marked their ballots.
In PU 003 Opp. Olomu Mosque in Osogbo, PDP party agents were allegedly seen handing out between N2000 and N5000 to induce voters.
“Also, in Disu Polling Unit 003, ward 7 in Orolu LGA, APC agents were allegedly seen distributing N4000 to voters who voted for the party while PDP party agents were also allegedly seen distributing N2000 to induce voters,” he said.
He said the group commended the good people of the state for their peaceful conduct during the voting process.
“YIAGA will continue to provide updates on the voting and counting process and will provide independent verification of the election results as announced by INEC.
“Yiaga Africa appeals to INEC, all security agents, political party candidates and their supporters as well as all Osun people to work together to ensure that the Osun gubernatorial election is credible and peaceful,” he said.
