Atiku’s admonition contained in a statement he signed, came on the heels of Sunday’s declaration of the Osun gubernatorial election by INEC as inconclusive.
He described the declared result as the evidence of the love of Osun residents for PDP and its candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, pointing out that members of the PDP will resist any attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC), to trample upon the will of Osun people.
Atiku who avowed that victory for the PDP was already in sight, charged members of the PDP to unite to secure victory in the forthcoming run-off.
The statement further read, “What has happened in Osun State is a turning point and our people have spoken and democracy is safe. INEC must do the needful.
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“The people of Osun State have freely given their mandate to Senator Ademola Adeleke and the Peoples Democratic Party, and I urge the Independent National Electoral Commission to resist any and every temptation to be used to tamper with the will of the people of Osun State.
“I was in Osun on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, and I saw firsthand the love the people of Osun have for Senator Adeleke and the PDP. I told our people in Osun that their years of underdevelopment and backwardness will end with the election of Senator Adeleke and the PDP, and I stand by that promise.
“The attempt by the All Progressives Congress to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat will be resisted with every legitimate and democratic means at our disposal.
“As I said in my statement condemning the police invitation to Senator Ademola Adeleke this past Wednesday, I stand with him and the people of Osun. In good times and bad times, the PDP and I will always be with Senator Adeleke and the good people of Osun.
“I hereby offer Senator Adeleke and the Osun State chapter of the PDP my right hand of fellowship as they work to retrieve their victory, which is already in sight.
“The vote against APC was overwhelming; the people are not happy with status quo.
“We must all stand united at this point in time. The PDP secured a simple majority, even with the ₦16.7 billion that the federal government surreptitiously paid to the incumbent Osun State APC government, and the desperate Tradermoni bait that Vice President Osinbajo dangled at the electorate in Osun. This is a testament to the fact that the APC has lost favour all over Nigeria.
“Nigerians need jobs, opportunities and security. Once again, I assure Senator Ademola Adeleke and the people of Osun State that the PDP and I will stand with them to ensure that the victory freely given to Senator Adeleke by the people of Osun State is not taken away from them by people from outside the state.”
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