Adejoke Adeleye, Abeokuta
Members of Coalition of United Political Parties, (CUPP) an umbrella body of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN) and Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) in Ogun State have again embarked on a peaceful protest to the office of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abeokuta during which they submitted a petition demanding a rerun election for Ogun east senatorial district this Saturday.
The political group had last week Friday held similar protest in Sagamu calling on INEC and security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police to ensure justice was done over Ogun east senatorial election so as to avoid break down of law and order.
The protesters who were about 50 carried placards bearing different messages conveying their grouse with the electoral body such as: ‘INEC, all we are asking for is rerun election in Ogun east’ ‘INEC, respect rule of law, never allow 2000 votes to override 13,000 votes at Ajebandele’ ‘Our votes must count in Ogun east’ ‘We reject daylight robbery our candidate, Engr Ayoola Sosanwo’ among others.
The Coordinator of the group and former Chairman of PDP in Ikenne local government, Prince Yomi Solanke while speaking to newsmen said the Returning Officer for the senatorial election, Prof. Chris Nwoka had on Sunday 24th of last month declared the election inconclusive due to cancellation of election result in Ajebandele Ward in Ijebu East local government because of some irregularities
He added that Prof Nwoka, however, reversed himself, 48 hours later by declaring Sen. Lekan Mustapha of All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election against Engr. Ayoola Sosanwo of PDP
Prince Yomi Solanke said that “when we heard this terrible news, we protested the fact that INEC is colluding with the ruling party, APC to rig out our candidate, Engr. Ayoola Sosanwo of PDP out of the election because rather than announcing anybody as the winner after declaring an election inconclusive, what legally should follow is a rerun election in the affected areas”
He disclosed further that ” We are therefore very happy when we saw it in Guardian newspaper of Tuesday where Ogun east was listed as part of the country where rerun election will hold this Saturday alongside governorship and House of Assembly elections. We were however surprised when we visited Resident Commissioner of INEC on Tuesday and he told us that he was never aware and that he would get back to us”
“This is Thursday, less than 48 hours to the election, but we have heard nothing from INEC so, we have no choice than to come around to register our displeasure and demand for justice. All we are asking for is a rerun election in Ajebandele ward which is a PDP stronghold with over 13,000 registered voters as well as Ijebu Ilese Ward 3 in Ijebu North East local government and Ward 10 in Sagamu local government”.
He disclosed that Resident Commissioner for INEC in the state, Prof Abdulganiyu Raji after collecting the petition from him promised to get back to the political group before the close of work on Thursday.
Other leaders of the political group in attendance during the protest were Hon Akindunni Sharafadeen of Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN) and Hon Adenuga Rotimi of Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN)