Ogun: Governorship candidates urge Akinlade to withdraw petition against Abiodun

Governorship candidates under the aegis ‘2019 Governorship Candidates Forum’ have urged the gubernatorial candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Hon. Adekunle Akinlade, to withdraw what it described as “needless petition” from the Ogun State Election Petitions Tribunal in the interest of the state.

Akinlade had gone to the Tribunal to challenge the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which declared Prince Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the March 9 Governorship Election in the state.

It would be recalled that Abiodun polled 241,670 to defeat the APM candidate who polled 222,153 votes.

At a press conference on Monday in Abeokuta, the Forum, comprising 15 governorship candidates in the last election appealed to Akinlade to “as a matter of urgency withdraw the petition in order for peace to reign in the state.”

Representing the governorship candidates and the Ogun State League of Registered Political parties, the gubernatorial candidate of the Independent Democrats (ID), Otunba Adebayo Mosuro called on Akinlade to join hands with the governor, Abiodun to make the state great again.

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“Recognising the fact that APM as a registered political party has a constitutional right to seek for redress, however, in the light of the spirit of good sportsmanship, all of us cannot be the winner at the same time.

“We hereby appeal to the leadership of APM and it’s candidate, Hon. Akinlade to as a matter of urgency withdraw the needless petition in the spirit of oneness and togetherness to rebuild a new Ogun State of our dream,” he said.

While describing the 2019 governorship election as credible, transparent, free and fair, the group stressed the need for peace and tranquillity in Ogun State in order to facilitate good governance for the benefit of the people.

But in a swift reaction, the APM spokesman, Olumide Balogun said the party and it’s governorship candidate would not withdraw its case from the petitions tribunal.

According to him, the candidates have no right to demand that they withdraw the petition, saying: “For now, our response to their request is a capital no.”