- IPAC chairman recalled previous legal action against Ogun electoral commission, urging dissatisfied parties to follow similar path.
- Opposition parties advised to return to the drawing board and strategise better ahead of future elections in Ogun State.
The Ogun State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) has asked political parties that took part in the Remo federal constituency by-election to accept the result as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The state IPAC chairman, Abayomi Sanyaolu, gave the advice in Abeokuta while addressing journalists on the outcome of the poll.
He urged any political party not satisfied with the conduct of the election to approach the court rather than resort to violence.
Sanyaolu warned against actions that could threaten the peace and unity of residents in the state.
INEC had declared Adesola Ayoola-Elegbeji of the All Progressives Congress winner of the by-election after she polled 41,237 votes.
She defeated her closest rival, Bola Oluwole of the Peoples Democratic Party, who scored 14,324 votes.
The IPAC chairman said, “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.”
NNPP SPEAKS
Also speaking, the national secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Oginni Olaposi, urged dissatisfied parties to ventilate their grievances in court.
He said the APC’s victory could be traced to Governor Dapo Abiodun’s achievements in Remoland, particularly the construction of the multi-billion-naira Agro Cargo airport in Iperu.
Oginni said, “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 Remoland 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 compromised.
“I think what swung 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 future elections.”
LP COMMENTS
On his part, the national publicity secretary of the Labour Party, Abayomi Arabambi, described the outcome as a referendum on the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Arabambi said, “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.”
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