THE Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Tuesday, disagreed with the national secretariat of the party in its assessment of weekend’s gubernatorial election in the state as it moved to contest what it described as a concoted election result in the election tribunal.
The national secretariat in a sharp rebuke to the Ondo chapter disowned the move saying the Ondo chapter was on its own.
Also yesterday, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, gubernatorial candidate in Saturday’s election, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, pressed on in his rebuttal of the election result with his assertion that the result which returned the incumbent and Labour Party, LP, candidate was concocted. Akeredolu also pledged that the ACN would mount a formidable opposition against the LP from day one.
It would be recalled that the national secretariat of the PDP and the party’s national leader, President Goodluck Jonathan had last Sunday congratulated Dr. Mimiko on his declaration as winner of the election. Disagreeing with the assertions of its officers in Abuja, the state chapter of the party, yesterday, expressed surprise over the way and manner with which members and leaders of the party have been congratulating Mimiko over the result of the election.
A statement by PDP’s Publicity Secretary in Akure, Wale Ozogoro, said the party was complying and collating reports across the state and would go to the tribunal. The statement said: “The party has noticed misapplication of electoral guidelines in the gubernatorial election.
“We are indeed convinced that justice will be achieved as we intend to seek same at the appropriate time. However, the party is not taken aback as to the comments of few individuals who feel that the party should not approach justice to seek redress. We want to put it on record that seeking justice at the appropriate quarter is part of the rule of law, which is the bedrock of democratic ethos .
Available option
“We, therefore, want to avail ourselves of every available option under the law to seek justice and rekindle the hope and aspiration of all Ondo people that democracy built on fairness, equity, and justice can truly be achieved.” The party, however, urged its supporters to remain resolute, determined and keep faith with it and Chief Olusola Oke, saying it hopes to get justice through the court.
Mimiko Oke and Akeredolu
Reacting to the development, the party’s national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said the party in Akure was on its own.
Metuh told Vanguard that the national leadership of the Party had already congratulated Mimiko and was not going to court, affirming that the party stood on its earlier position.
Metuh who stressed that the decision of the party and the statement released immediately after Dr. Mimiko was declared the winner of the election was the stand of the National Working Committee, NWC, added: “The party has taken its own position of not going to court by congratulating Dr. Olusegun Mimiko. We stand by our statement, it is the position of the NWC.”
Mimiko’s victory a pariah – Akeredolu
Akeredolu who came third in the result declared by INEC on his part dismissed claims of a landslide achieved by Mimiko as absurd affirming that the incumbent’s share of the votes was proportionately lower than what he achieved in the 2007 election.
Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, the Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy for ACO, said in a statement yesterday: “The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has given a great show in the election with a remarkable improvement on her previous performances in elections in Ondo State while the lot of the Labour Party, LP, has dwindled as result of the rejection of Mimiko by the majority of the voters.
“It is clear that in contrast with the performance of Mimiko in 2007 in which he was declared winner in 2009 by the court of appeal, where he polled 198,261 which represent 55 per cent of the vote cast, his 260,199 votes represents only 41.7 per cent of the total 624,659 vote cast reflecting a proportional decline meaning that the opposition got majority of the votes.
“Indeed, on the declaration of the election result, Akure city wore a mourning look until their supporters had to be forced out for some sort of celebration as against the spontaneous celebration of 2009 after Mimiko mandate was restored. This speaks volume on the authenticity of the victory which we believe when tested will reveal of what sort it is made, whether it be of sand or solid rock.
“In fact, the ACN gave a good showing in all the local government areas of the state in spite of the massive rigging, intimidation of supporters in the party’s strongholds, cancellation of results in Idanre, Ipele, Okitipupa among others. We are poised to put the LP government on its toes from day one pending the outcome of the meeting of the leadership of our great party to decide on the next line of action on the massive irregularities experienced in the conduct of the October 20 elections.
“The bottom line is sustainable development for our people, progressivism, accountability and transparency which ACN represents and will continue to advocate for Ondo State, the south west and indeed Nigeria.”
Mimiko receives Certificate of Return, hail INEC
Mimiko, meanwhile, yesterday received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, just as he advocated the introduction of staggered elections system as a way out of electoral malpractice in the country.
The Certificate of Return was presented to him by INEC National Commissioner in charge of South West, Prof. Lai Olurode in Akure. His Deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi was also presented his certificate at the ceremony attended by Mimiko’s wife, Olukemi and Labour Party National Chairman, Mr. Dan Nwanyanwu and hundreds of LP faithful across the state.
At the occasion, Mimiko said: “One critical element of success is these staggered elections. I am sure we did not deliberately craft it, but this has been crafted for us. It appears God has decided to intervene in our electoral affairs through this. I believe that our electoral umpire, INEC should now go to that and create a regimen of staggered elections for Nigeria.
“From my experience in the elections that took place in Edo and Ondo States on these staggered elections option, it will probably be one credible solution to the challenges of electoral malpractice in Nigeria.
Mimiko urged the electoral body to work towards ensuring that logos of political parties that are similar are not very close to each other on the ballot papers to avoid having thousands of voided votes. The re-elected governor also advocated a continuous voters registration scheme to accommodate those who have attained voting age to preventdisenfranchisement of many eligible voters.
He commended INEC for its increased level of commitment to having a credible electoral system and expressed gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan for delivering on his promise to provide security to secure our votes.
Olurode in his remarks said; “Though INEC is not claiming to be perfect as there are bound to be challenges, the most important thing is to remove what remains of electoral malfeasance.’
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