GROUP SLAMS INEC OVER OYO REPS RERUN POLL

By Kazeem Adekunle

A Non Government Organisation, the Elections Transparency Group (ETG) has described as ridiculous, claim by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the rerun election into the House of Representatives seat for Irepodun/Orelope/Olorunsogo Federal Constituency in Oyo State was inclusive as not only ridiculous, scandalous but fraudulent.

The group said; “it stands logic on the head for anyone to say that election in which results of 210 out 117 polling units have been release was inconclusive,” asking how seven polling units can determine the result of an election held in 217 polling units.

ETG said in a release issued in Abuja today and signed by its Chairman, Dr. Kazeem Adekunle that the only option for the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega to redeem his image was to declare the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate winner of the election without further delay.

ETG said; “If in 210 Local Councils, a little above 30,000 votes were recorded, that will translate to an average of not more than 150 votes per polling units, meaning that the remaining seven polling units will produce say 1,050 votes.

“Let's even assume that the seven polling units produce 2,000 votes, can that alter the result of the 210 units in which PDP is leading by

1,882 votes? Or will it be possible for the ACN to have at least, 300 out of the 2,000 votes?”

Dr. Adekunle, who said there was no justification for the refusal of INEC to release the result, added that; “Considering the election result already released by INEC in which PDP scored 16,344 votes to defeat Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which had 14,573 votes, there is nothing that can happen in the remaining seven units that will alter the result.

“We are shocked by the position of INEC that the Oyo State House of Representatives rerun election was inconclusive even with results of

210 out of 217 polling units already released and affirmed by the electoral commission.

“Is it not in this same country that Rauf Aregbesola of the ACN was made governor of Osun State with votes in 20 out of the 30 Local Councils in the State?

“Is it also not in Nigeria that votes in five out of 63 wards where the governorship rerun election in Ekiti State was held were cancelled and Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the ACN declared winner?

“Can INEC tell Nigerians that the case of Oyo State Reps rerun poll was the first time election will be cancelled in some polling units and results will still be announced?

“Jega should therefore save Nigeria, himself and INEC of this embarrassment by directing the immediate release of the election result and issue certificate of return to the PDP candidate who is the winner of the election.”