Osun Polls: PDP Heads For Tribunal
The decision was made during an extra ordinary meeting of the party in Osogbo on Monday, August 11, 2014.
The decision came on the heels of an advice by he European Union Election Monitoring Group has asked the governor of Osun state to make full use advantage of the legal system to challenge the militarisation of the state by security agents obeying orders from the federal government.
Thisday reports:
The
state chairman of the PDP, Chief Ojo Williams, moved a motion that the
Osun gubernatorial election was marred with fraud and irregularities and
that the state PDP should reject it in totality.
The motion was seconded by Alhaji Halidu Tiamiyu.
A communique which was signed by the PDP chairman, described the election as robbery of the electorate.
A communique which was signed by the PDP chairman, described the election as robbery of the electorate.
The communique said the PDP in the state rejected in totality, the
outcome of the result and that it would contest it until the mandate of
the state which was stolen is returned.
The communique praised and commended the people of the state for coming out en masse to vote for the PDP.
Meanwhile, the EU Election Monitoring Group Coordinator, Paul Edwards,
gave this advice when his team paid a courtesy visit on the governor at
his residence after the announcement of the election results.
In his congratulatory remark to Aregbesola, Edwards said the most
dependable way to deepen democracy in Nigerian is by strict adherence to
the rule of law.
Aregbesola
had complained about the recklessness and arbitrary use of force, arrest
without charges and total clampdown on party chieftains by the security
agencies.
The EU envoy observed that the most acceptable and preferred way to challenge arbitrariness of opposition is to seek legal remedy.
The EU envoy observed that the most acceptable and preferred way to challenge arbitrariness of opposition is to seek legal remedy.
According to
him, We are here to congratulate Your Excellency on your victory in the
Saturday governorship election. Besides, our mission here is to also
find out from you about the conduct of the election.
We have observed the election all over the state and have our reports.
In any election like this, there are bounds to be issues. But it is our opinion that whatever the complaint you have, you should choose the legal option to seek remedy.
In any election like this, there are bounds to be issues. But it is our opinion that whatever the complaint you have, you should choose the legal option to seek remedy.
Let us rely on the instrumentality of law to pursue whatever anomaly or violation of rights we have suffered.
Let us always use the legal method to stop the impunity used by one
unit of government against the other. It is through this option that we
can deepen democratic institutions wherever it is practised in the
world.
If you send your
complaints to the EU, we shall take note of it and act accordingly
within the framework of law, the EU coordinator said.
In his remark, Aregbesola commended the EU Monitoring Group for its
interest and commitment to the development of democracy in Nigeria.
Aregbesola however, lamented the show of brute force by the forces of
occupation drafted to the state by the federal government.
The governor observed that voting is a minute aspect of a democracy but
as tiny as it is, it should not be backed by force so that people can
freely choose the candidate of their choice.
He also condemned the commando-like manners the hooded security men
operated on the streets in the state and the gale of arrests of members,
chieftains and supporters of All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said: Our victory did not come because the federal authority
designed it so but because we were favored by the people as the best
party that can serve them better.
Or how do you rationalize the presence of strangers (security personnel), people I cannot control, who took over the administration of security of my state with impunity, which adversely affected life in the state?
Or how do you rationalize the presence of strangers (security personnel), people I cannot control, who took over the administration of security of my state with impunity, which adversely affected life in the state?
It is humiliating, worse sort of what a unit of government like ours
should suffer. There was a deliberate attempt at muzzling the people
voice through votes.
By now, we should know that voting is just a routine aspect of democracy and even at that, the people must not be denied their freedom to choose their leader freely.
By now, we should know that voting is just a routine aspect of democracy and even at that, the people must not be denied their freedom to choose their leader freely.
We must prevent the federal government from the recurring culture of
arbitrarily invading the territory of a unit within the federal
structure. This is an abuse of power, Aregbesola said.
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