Ogun IPAC Cautions Aggrieved Political Parties Against Post-Election Crisis
The council, however, appealed the affected opposition
parties to either accept the outcome of the poll as declared by the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) in good faith or to approach the court to
seek redress.
State’s IPAC Chairman, Abayomi Sanyaolu, who gave the advice
while addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, the State capital, said there must be no
bloodshed or crisis after the poll.
Sanyaolu explained that the council has a duty to guide the
political parties participated in the exercise on the steps to be taken if they
feel disenfranchised during the poll in order to ensure peaceful state.
“Though other political parties participated in the
by-election, the Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the
candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mrs Ayoola Elegbeji, as the winner
of the poll. As the Chairman of IPAC in the state, what remains to be done is
to call for unity among all. We don’t want violence; all we want is peace so
that the state can continue to make progress.
“Our duty is to relate with other political parties and to
advise that we all give peace a chance; there must be no bloodshed or crisis
after the election. If any of the political parties that participated in the
by-election is not satisfied with the conduct of the election, the best thing
to do is to go to court to seek redress.
“I could remember that during the local government election
held in the state last year, we had some issues with the Ogun State Independent
Electoral Commission, and we went to court and got our judgment against them.
“In this wise too, if you are having any misgivings over the
last Saturday’s Remo Federal constituency by-election, don’t take the law into
your hands. Go to court to seek redress and let the peace that we have continued
to enjoy in the state prevail”, Sanwoolu concluded.
In his contribution, the National Secretary of the New
Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Comrade Oginni Olaposi, said the victory of the
APC in the bye-election is traceable to the achievements of the governor who is
also from the Remo Federal constituency.
Oginni listed some of the achievements especially those
located within the constituency to include the Gateway Agro Cargo airport,
among others.
“I want to say that
the election went the way it went because the governor, who is the leader of
the ruling party, is from Remoland, Iperu Remo to be precise.
“And we should not forget that the multi-billion naira mega
project of the Agro Cargo airport is sited in that region. The by-election thus
became an opportunity for the people of Remo land to show their appreciation to
the governor, and they voted massively for the ruling All Progressives
Congress.
“So, I won’t say that as an opposition party member, the
election was rigged or compromise, I think what swing the vote in favour of the
ruling party and the governor is that multi billion naira airport project which
will serve as a good alternative to the one in Lagos and also help to decongest
the airport in Lagos.
“The opposition parties should just go back to the drawing
board and see how we can do better next time. We should not say that we want to
bring the roof down because our parties did not win. And if we feel aggrieved,
let’s approach a competent court to seek redress. So I am appealing for peace
and understanding, there is always another day to put up a better performance
in the future election.” Oginni said.
Also, speaking during the briefing, the National Publicity
Secretary of the Labour Party, Comrade Abayomi Arabambi, attributed the victory
of the APC to the demonstration of Abiodun’s acceptance by the people of
Remoland, who have greatly benefited from his administration.
“The outcome of the
election is a referendum for the government of Governor Dapo Abiodun. He has
done a great deal for the people in that region, and they rewarded him with an
emphatic victory for his party, the APC. The Agro Cargo airport situated within
the region is a game-changer.
“And once INEC declares a winner in an election, the next
option for whoever has an axe to grind with the conduct of the election is to
go to court rather than causing any brigandage.
“So I congratulate President Bola Tinubu, the governor and
the security agencies for ensuring an enabling environment for the conduct of
the election. Any party that is not satisfied with the conduct of the election
as spelt out by the electoral laws will have to go to court.”
It will be recalled INEC had declared the candidate of the
All Progressives Congress (APC), Adesola Ayoola-Elegbeji, as the winner of the
bye-election, having polled 41,237 votes to defeat her closest rival, Bolarin
Oluwole of the Peoples Democratic Party, who scored 14,324 votes.
