PDP supporters protest, allege rigging of Osun poll

Forum 9 years ago

PDP supporters protest, allege rigging of Osun poll

Osun State PDP Governorship candidate, Iyiola Omisore, casting his vote at a polling centre, in Yemo Ward, Moore, Ile-Ife. Photo: Sodiq Adelakun


Members of Omisore Youth Support Forum staged a protest in Osogbo on Wednesday over the allegations that the Osun State August 9 governorship election was rigged in favour of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

The protesters, who bore placards with various messages, gathered in front of the Peoples Democratic Party’s secretariat in Osogbo and marched along Gbongan-Osogbo Road for some minutes before the some of their leaders addressed journalists.

The Leader of the OYSF, Mr. Rotimi Adeyenuwo, alleged that the governorship election was rigged by the APC which he claimed used ‘State Boys’ to unleash terror on some PDP agents at some polling units.

This, he said, gave the APC the opportunity to manipulate the election in favour of the governor, who was declared the eventual winner of the election.

Asked why the allegations being made public now were not raised during the conduct of the election or immediately after voting, Adeyenuwo said the group needed time to compile and verify all the information made available to its leaders to ensure that they were genuine.

But the spokesperson of the APC in the state, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, said the party would not trade words with the PDP over the poll.

He said, “It is not worth the bother to exchange words on the last election with the Omisore gang. They wanted Ambassador Rufus Akeju out as Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, because they thought if he presided over the election process, he would rig it for the APC.

“So, against INEC’s own wish, they sacrificed the poor man so that the PDP could win. Now in spite of that and many other horrific things done by the Federal Government to help the PDP, they lost.

“The next step should be sorted out at the tribunal, whatever evidence they have should be presented there, and not at a press conference.”