… vows to retrieve mandate from Fayemi
The Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has raised the alarm that no fewer than 20 of its members have yet to be released from police detention in the state.
The party, which also said the mandate given to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, in Saturday’s governorship election was a product of ‘poll robbery,’ boasted that it would deploy every constitutional means to retrieve what it called a ‘ stolen mandate’ from the governor-elect.
The PDP disclosed that it would challenge the election in court, adding that it was not embarrassed by the congratulatory message sent by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to Fayemi on his victory
The party said such was expected of an elder statesman.
“We are not embarrassed and we can’t join issues with Chief Obasanjo on that . When a young man became successful, the elders will congratulate him. But the former President will soon change when he realises that Fayemi actually stole the victory,” the PDP said.
Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti on Monday on the outcome of the election, the PDP state Chairman, Mr. Gboyega Oguntuase, accused the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies of conspiring to subvert the will of the electorate.
Oguntuase specifically accused the two Federal Government agencies of alleged involvement in the allocation of votes to Fayemi, just to disgrace Governor Ayodele Fayose.
The Ekiti PDP chairman said over 20 members of the party, including the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, and four of his aides, among others, were arrested by combined forces of military and paramilitary security outfits and clamped in detention on the day of the election.
He described the governorship poll as an embarrassment to democrats across the globe, saying that for the APC governors to have spent humongous amount of money that could have been used to develop their states to buy votes, signposted that the party had no interest of the masses at heart.
He said, “What did they need 30,000 police officers for in Ekiti when criminals were killing Nigerians in other states? Ekiti people knew they were in our state for a task and not to protect their votes and that was why there was no jubilation or ceremony anywhere in the state after the election.
“This election was far from being free, fair and credible. In Ilejemeje, Ilawe, Ikole, Ise/Orun , Oye , Ado and other major towns in Ekiti , many of our people were beaten by APC thugs being aided by the security men.
“As we speak, the results declared by INEC to give victory to Fayemi was more than the number of accredited voters. So, where did they get the additional votes they added? We are going to use every constitutional means to retrieve this stolen mandate; it is just a matter of time.
“APC mobilised over N11 billion to buy votes in Ekiti. They came here to perpetrate electoral perfidy and such will not stand.”
Oguntuase alleged that the Federal Government deliberately delayed the June allocation to Ekiti to create the impression that Fayose was owing salaries and to sway votes for APC.
On the arrested and detained party members , Oguntuase told the police to release them, saying, “We are not going to tolerate excuses that they had escaped from detention, when they cannot be found anywhere with police.
“They must not just be released immediately to us, they must also be hale and hearty.”
