Connect with us

NEWS

PDP To Drag INEC To Court Over Osun Re-run

Published

on





The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said it’s going to court to challenge the inconclusive declaration on last Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the election, following the cancellation of the exercise in some local government areas.

However, Kola Ologbondiyan, spokesman of party in a statement on Monday insisted that the election was concluded and results announced in all polling and the collation centers.

Advertisement

According the PDP, that signified the lawful conclusion of the election, thus removing INEC’s powers to declare the election inconclusive.

The statement said, “Our electoral law is clear that once an election result is declared, INEC is bound to return a winner. INEC, in trying to play the card of the defeated All Progressives Congress (APC), contravened the law by refusing to announce a return, even when the declared results have thrown up a winner.

“Section 69 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) states that inter-alia “in an election to the office of the President or governor whether or not contested and in any contested election to any other elective office, the result shall be ascertained by counting the votes cast for each candidate and subject to the provisions of sections 133, 134 and 179 of the constitution, the candidate that receives the highest number of votes shall be declared elected by the appropriate Returning Officer”.

Advertisement

“Concurrently, Section 179 (2), (a) (b) of the constitution directly prescribes that “a candidate for an election to the office of Governor of a State shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being two or more candidates – (a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and (b) he has not less than one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the local government areas in the State.

“INEC’s action in declaring a concluded election as inconclusive is therefore an annulment, totally duplicitous, constitutionally illegal, ultra-vires and as such null and void”.

The PDP called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Osun State Governorship Election Returning Officer, Prof. Joseph Fuwape, for “succumbing to the pressure of the APC” and declaring a decided election as inconclusive.

Advertisement

“We demand that INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu immediately summon the courage to do the needful by declaring our candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, as winner.

“It is completely ludicrous, that INEC and the APC are now attempting to divert the narrative from the substance of the election by making outlandish allegations against the PDP and lobbying Civil Society Organizations and Electoral Observers to validate their illegality.

“Moreover, even if the Osun governorship election is conducted over and over again, the PDP will still win as the people of the state have chosen the PDP and its candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

Advertisement

“Nevertheless, we insist that the September 22, 2018 election, under our laws, is conclusive and our candidate must be declared winner”

FEATURED9 hours ago

PDP Leaders in Delta Warn Members Against Joining APC, Affirm No Other Party Exists in Ovwian Ward 7

FEATURED11 hours ago

Midterm Review: Sen. Nwoko Releases Blow-by-blow Account of People-centered Achievements

FEATURED12 hours ago

Robbery Suspects Killed in Gunfight As Delta Police Recovers Firearms, Stolen Motorcycle

ANRPM
FEATURED1 day ago

Two Years in Office: ANRPM Lauds President Tinubu on Sectorial Achievements

FEATURED1 day ago

Gateway Games 2024: Sen. Nwoko Hails Team Delta Over Outstanding Performance

FEATURED2 days ago

EFCC Re-arraigns Bishop, Other Fadama Society Executives for Alleged ₦178m Fraud in Jos

FEATURED2 days ago

Courts Jail 32 Internet Fraudsters In Benin

NEWS2 days ago

Two Years in Office: We’ve Empower 266,737 Deltans Under Our Social Intervention Programmes – Oborevwori

Delta Politician
FEATURED2 days ago

Delta NUJ Slams Gov. Oborevwori For ‘Running Away From Media Interaction’ After Two Years in Office

BUSINESS2 days ago

Governor Oborevwori Announces Delta’s MoU with UK Firms on Blue Carbon Partnership

FEATURED2 days ago

‘You’ve Shown Leadership Committed to National Interest’ – Sen. Nwoko Hails President Tinubu on 2nd Anniversary

NEWS3 days ago

Elumelu Hails Gov. Oborevwori on Administration’s 2nd Anniversary

FEATURED3 days ago

Official Reveals How Former CBN Governor, Emefiele Received $17.1m Cash

social media
FEATURED3 days ago

‘The Journey Continues’ – Sen. Nwoko on Successful Public Hearing on Bill to Upgrade Asaba Tech College

State of the State Address
FEATURED3 days ago

‘Here’s My Stewardship’—Gov. Oborevwori Presents ‘State of the State Address’ to Delta Assembly to Mark Two Years in Office

Advertisement
Advertisement