• Victory, testament for Nigerian democracy, says Adeleke
From Clement Adeyi, Osogbo, Ndubuisi Orji and Fred Ituah, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) boasted, yesterday, that, if there is no interference in elections in the country, it would beat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) silly in future elections.
The PDP said this against the backdrop of Dr. Ademola Adeleke’s victory on Saturday, July 8, 2017, in Osun West senatorial district by-election where he trounced APC candidate, Senator Mudashiru Hussein.
The PDP pulled a surprise victory when its candidate won nine, out of 10 local governments.
Adeleke, who rode on the people’s sentiments for his late brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, defeated his APC opponent, Hussein, polling 97,280 votes.
Hussein came a distant second with 66,115 votes.
PDP National Secretary, Prof. Adewale Oladipo, said Adeleke’s victory is true reflection of the wishes of the electorate in the area.
In a statement issued yesterday, Oladipo said it was indication that all hope is not lost in the nation’s electoral system and commended National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party for allowing PDP members in Osun West free hand in picking the party’s candidate.
Also, PDP NWC, in a separate statement, issued by its spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said: “We are confident that without the interference of the APC in the current leadership issues in our party, the PDP remains the party to beat in all elections in Nigeria. Even as we await the judgment of the Supreme Court, we urge our members to unite in the interest of Nigerians.”
Also, the party’s caucus in the House of Representatives has reiterated that Adeleke’s victory “is a sure sign of the beginning of an end to APC’s insensitive dominance of Nigeria’s political space.”
In a statement issued on behalf of the caucus by the House Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, the caucus expressed “hearty felicitations with the Adeleke family, PDP and the people of Osun state, for helping to signal the coming to an end of APC dominance in Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, senator-elect for Osun West senatorial district, Dr. Adeleke, said his victory, on the platform of the PDP is testament that Nigerian democracy is growing. He stressed that Nigerians must allow democracy to continue to grow, as people of Osun West demonstrated on Saturday, July 8, 2017.
Adeleke, who spoke at his Ede country home, while addressing newsmen, also expressed optimism that his victory has marked a new dawn, not only for the Nigerian democracy but, also, for the PDP.
He said his victory, under PDP, points to the fact that victory over power of incumbency is possible, especially in a democratic setting.
Adeleke added that PDP’s victory in the weekend election is “glimmer of hope and light in the party, which will surely shine and pave way for its victory in the forthcoming governorship election in the state next year, as well as the general election in 2019.
“But, we won’t take the ruling party, APC, for granted because, if you do that, you get surprises. We will try to create a balance.”
He added that his middle name, Nurudeen, means ‘light,’ which he referred to as “imole,” in Yoruba.
Meanwhile, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has congratulated Adeleke, saying the poll represents ”a glimmer of hope for the nation’s electoral system.
“For our party, it shows that working together, as one big family, we can always show strength, achieve great results, and surmount every obstacle in rebuilding the fortunes of our party and restoring good governance to the country.
“It also appears the Independent National Electoral Commission is beginning to get it right, in reviving hope and confidence of the people in the potency and sanctity of the ballot box. We will tread the path of cautious optimism, watching and believing that sanity is beginning to return to the electoral system, once again.”