Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Osogbo

Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has described Thursday’s rerun election in four out of the 30 Local Government Areas in the state as a coup and not an election.

Adeleke said the action of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who allegedly hired thugs to chase away voters and election observers was a mockery of the nation’s democracy.

He said “We report to the whole world the brazen theft and daylight swindling of Osun people who were criminally denied their rights to vote and be voted for by an anti-people conspiracy among INEC, security agencies and the ruling All Progressive Congress.”

“The whole world is witnessing a charade in the name of election, a deliberate effort at imposition of a discredited leadership on the suffering people of Osun State through undisguised brutal force.

“Applying all standards, the supplementary poll was a non-event as all
norms of electoral process were violated. Voters were deliberatedly refused access to polling centres at gun points. Those allowed to voting centers were forced to vote for APC.
The PDP agents were arrested, beaten up and shut out of polling centres. PDP agents were barred from many units. Roads were blocked to stop voters and observers.

“Journalists and election monitors were blocked from accessing many
voting areas. Those who attempted gaining access were attacked by
hooded thugs. PDP leaders were hounded and arrested. It was a brutal unleashing of force against unarmed election stakeholders.

W”e report to the whole world that in Osun, no supplementary poll took
place. It was all violence and and undisguised breaching of all electoral rules. The APC is pushing violently to steal people’s mandate freely given by the oppressed people of Osun State.

“We condemn this charade; We reject this violent operations called election. We dissociate ourselves from this brazen shame and sham election

“We stand on the mandate freely given to us. We will uphold the people’s mandate through all legal means. We will not succumb to fascist agents hell bent on plunging the state into chaos.

“We call on the international community to monitor happenings in Osun state. A major political tragedy is underway with huge consequence for the
nation,” he added.