INEC must conduct rerun election in Ogun East on Saturday, group insists

Coalition of United Political Parties, (CUPP) an umbrella body of three political parties consisting Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN) and Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) has again, on Wednesday embarked on a peaceful protest to Ogun State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Magbon, Abeokuta to submit their petition demanding a rerun election for Ogun East senatorial district this Saturday.

The political group had last week Friday held a similar protest in Sagamu calling on INEC and security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police to ensure justice was done over Ogun East senatorial election so as to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

The protesters who were about 50 carried placards bearing different messages conveying their grouse with the electoral body such as: ‘INEC, all we are asking for is re-run election in Ogun East’; ‘INEC, respect rule of law, never allow 2000 votes to override 13,000 votes at Ajebandele’ ‘Our votes must count in Ogun East’; ‘We reject daylight robbery on our candidate, Engr Ayoola Sosanwo’, among others.

The Coordinator of the group and former Chairman of PDP in Ikenne Local Government, Prince Yomi Solanke while speaking to newsmen said the Returning Officer for the senatorial election, Professor Chris Nwoka had on Sunday 24th February declared the election as inconclusive due to cancellation of election result in Ajebandele Ward in Ijebu East Local Government because of some irregularities.

He added that Prof. Nwoka, however, reverted himself, 48 hours after on Tuesday 26 February, declaring Senator Lekan Mustapha, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election against Engr. Ayoola Sosanwo of PDP.

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Prince Yomi Solanke said that “when we heard this terrible news, we protested the fact that INEC is colluding with the ruling party, APC to rig our candidate, Engr. Ayoola Sosanwo of PDP out of the election because rather than announcing anybody as the winner after declaring an election inconclusive, what legally should follow is a rerun election in the affected areas.”

He disclosed further that: “We are therefore very happy when we saw it in a newspaper report on Tuesday where Ogun East was listed as part of where rerun elections will hold this Saturday alongside governorship and House of Assembly elections. We were, however, surprised when we visited Resident Commissioner of INEC on Tuesday who told us that he was not aware and that he would get back to us.”

Solanke said further that: “This is Thursday, less than 48 hours to the election but we have heard nothing from INEC so, we have no choice than to come around to register our displeasure and demand for justice. All we are asking for is a rerun election in Ajebandele ward which is a PDP stronghold with over 13,000 registered voters as well as Ijebu Ilese Ward 3 in Ijebu North East Local Government and Ward 10 in Sagamu Local Government.”

He disclosed that the state REC, Prof Abdulganiyu Raji after collecting the petition from him promised to get back to the political group before the close of work on Thursday.

Other leaders of the political group in attendance during the protest were Hon Akindunni Sharafadeen of Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN) and Hon Adenuga Rotimi of Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN).