NASS elections in Ogun State, charade ― ADC

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ogun State, on Wednesday, described the last Saturday Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state as “an elaborate charade.”

Addressing a news conference was the Director General of the Gboyega Nasir Isiaka Campaign Organisation (GNICO), Engr Tony Ojesina, in Abeokuta, who said his party would resist the alleged malfeasance that greeted the election.

Ojesina flanked by the Secretary of the Party, Chief Niyi Salako, Chief Joju Fadairo, Chief Pegba Otemolu and other party stalwarts charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, especially the Police to live up to expectations in the March 9 elections.

The party highlighted missing ballot papers; use of fake Youth Corps members unknown to INEC; use of fake police officers in many polling booths; multiple voting in many locations inexperienced and poorly trained ad-hoc staff and polling agents and compromises ad-hoc staffs loyal to the ruling party as some of the irregularities that marred the election.

Ojesina, however, commended the three commissioners of Police deployed to the state for the purpose of the election for putting up their best.

The party said the note of warning sounded by the party and governorship candidate, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka before the last Saturday election was not heeded to.

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“The National Assembly elections was indeed marred with not just the identified plans but much more than we could envisage; suffice to say that, the February 23 election in Ogun State was an elaborate charade.

“As a responsible party and campaign organisation, we are not raising red herring or crying foul where there is none, but our disappointment and disapproval of this process stems from the fact that we saw it ahead, cried out, yet INEC and the security apparatus were handicap while anti-democratic forces had their way.

“We are conscious that the stakes in the next election are high and the opposition will be more determined to up their rigging plans. We want to sound a note of warning to these political parties that the robbery and fraud they went away with last Saturday will not be tolerated next week.

“We again urge both INEC and Police particularly, to treat our concerns as very important and germane to having a free, fair and credible election that day.

“Elections are not a do-or-die affair and all hands must be on deck to make it happen. Ogun State will not be turned into a war zone; and on free and fair elections we stand,” he said.