Opposition Parties In Kwara State Reject National Assembly Election Results
By Tunde Akanbi, Ilorin
Opposition parties in Kwara state have rejected the results of the recently concluded presidential and National assembly election results.
The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Kwara Central Senatorial candidate, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has rejected the result of the Kwara Central Senatorial election.
Abdullahi, in a statement released by his media team, said the preliminary review of the results shows substantial irregularities and manipulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of the electoral law.
The former Minister Youth and Sports, who urged PDP members and supporters to remain calm, said a team of lawyers were already studying the results and would be taking appropriate legal steps.
“While the party explores the instruments of the law to prosecute its grievances, I appeal for calm across the district and urge our supporters to remain law-abiding,” Abdullahi said.
In a similar development, the House of Representative candidate of the PDP, Engineer Dare Bankole also rejected the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declaring the All Progressives Congress, APC, Tunji Raheem Ajuloopin, as the winner of Irepodun, Isin, Ekiti and Oke-Ero federal constituency.
Bankole, in a statement through his mandate office, said the results were fraught with many malpractices, voter manipulations, fraud, over-voting, vote buying among other irregularities.
The statement said that after careful study of the election’s outcome, the results, as announced by INEC do not conform to or reflect the votes and wishes of the people of the constituency as the exercise was marred by gross manipulations, voters inducements, intimidation and other irregularities.
Bankole while expressing gratitude to the electorates across the four local government areas for their huge support during the exercise, said apart from the fact that the APC did not have lawful representation on the ballot, the many irregularities which marred the exercise could not be overlooked.
He, therefore, declared his intention to reclaim his mandate at the court of competent jurisdiction.
Seeking redress
In the same vein, the PDP candidate for Ilorin East and South Federal constituency, Abdulwahab Oladimeji Issa also rejected the result of the just concluded elections and vowed to challenge the outcome which saw Ahmed Yinka Aluko of the APC, declared the winner.
Wahab Issa, in a statement made available to newsmen, appreciated the electorates across political affiliations for their unprecedented support and unparalleled understanding of democratic ethics in the polls.
“However, I wish to categorically reject the declaration of Ahmed Yinka Aluko of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election because the poll was marred by perceived manipulation of results, over voting and others in favour of the assumed winner of the poll.
“The people of Ilorin East and South constituency massively came out to vote, to echo their tiredness with the current dispensation under the APC. They came to do this honourably with the intention to address the decay in the people’s representation; they came with no intention to soil their hands; they came to vote the APC out.
“We have meticulously gathered overwhelming evidence of the electoral fraud that occurred in the constituency election held on Saturday 25th February. And we have decided to take legal action through the Election Petitions Tribunal.
“I want to confidently assure the electorates that by God’s grace, the mandate of the people shall be reclaimed. I want our teeming supporters and well-wishers, who are being pained by what they are seeing, to keep hope alive. Victory is certain. We should not be troubled and we should never opt for violence,” the statement concluded.
‘Unfair electoral process’
The PDP House of Representatives candidate for Asa/Ilorin West federal constituency, Ibrahim Mohammed Ajia also criticized the election process as unfair.
Ajia, stated this while addressing newsmen and giving his views on the election after voting at his polling unit.
“I have voted, a lot of things didn’t go the way we expected. For instance where I voted, Magajin Geri polling unit 005. BVAS was not working smoothly.
“There was a delay in the arrival of materials, as they arrived around 11 am against 8:30 am. We tried to find out from the security agencies and I was made to realise that the logistics arrangement by INEC was not there and as a result of that some APC members were using their vehicles to convey sensitive materials and INEC officials from the centre to the polling unit.”
The Reps candidate expressed displeasure at the deliberate effort to sabotage his vote through the malfunctioning of the BVAS.
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Tenets of Democracy
Meanwhile, the Kwara Central Senatorial Candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP Dr Apaokagi Ridwanullahi Salahudeen has expressed appreciation to his teeming supporters and voters who went all out to support his aspiration with votes and in several other ways. The medical doctor noted that the overwhelming expression of support he received before, during and after the election has further confirmed to him that it pays to be identified with certain quality ideals and principles.
However, in a statement released by the Director General of his campaign organization, Dr Apaokagi reiterated his belief in the tenets of democracy which gives power to the choice of the majority. He added that he respects the choice of the majority of voters within the senatorial district which has led to the emergence of a winner.
According to him, “As Muslims, we owe it as a duty to our creator and Lord to accept the outcome of any process as the will of Allah SWT who has the only supreme power and divine authority to enthrone and dethrone leaders at will and above the questioning of any mortal.
Dr Apaokagi, therefore, congratulated Mallam Saliu Mustapha of the APC on his victory and emergence as the senator-elect for the district.
Victory for Nigerians
The Kwara Governorship Candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Shuaibu Oba AbdulRaheem, says whoever emerges as the winner of the 2023 presidential elections will be a victory for all Nigerians.
AbdulRaheem said this while speaking to newsmen in Ilorin.
He advised that all party leaders should be called to a roundtable to discuss how to restructure Nigeria and how to produce an environment that is conducive for Nigerians.
AbdulRaheem said that the issue of the omission of NNPP on the ballot paper and faded logo, should not be handled with levity by INEC
He called on his supporters to remain calm, with the hope that common sense will prevail.
“We have tendered our case to the authority, that is INEC, and we hope that it will be corrected,” he said.
He also called on INEC to address the no-picture tags for easy identification of polling agents as the tags given have pictures missing.
“The engines of election machinery are the job of the agent and if the agent is not identified, then they are giving room for corruption,” he said.
The gubernatorial flagbearer said that the illegal intervention of the security personnel, who are not supposed to be beside a voter while casting his or her vote should stop.
AbdulRaheem called on security agents to talk to the people in the field of operation and let them know their job.
Electoral Tribunal
While reacting to the complaints, the Kwara State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Garba Attairu Madami appealed to the people of the State to remain calm and law-abiding.
Madami urged those that are aggrieved to take their matter to the electoral tribunal to seek redress.
According to him, he would address the media on Friday by 11 am on post Presidential and National Assembly Elections and preparations for governorship and state House of Assembly elections on March 11.
Emmanuel Ukoh
