The Adeleke Campaign Organisation has called on the international community to intervene in the events surrounding the Osun State governorship election.
Reacting to the outcome of the supplementary election in a statement on Friday, the organisation said a major political tragedy was underway with major consequences for the nation.
“We call on the international community to monitor happenings in Osun state. A major political tragedy is underway with huge consequence for the nation,” the statement read in part.
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Gboyega Oyetola emerged victorious after he got 255,505 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ademola Adeleke secured 255,023 votes.
Going into the supplementary election, Oyetola had trailed Adeleke by 353 votes.
However, his votes from Thursday were enough to help him overturn the deficit and be returned as winner of the keenly contested election.
But the Adeleke Campaign Organisation rejected the results as it described the exercise as a sham.
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It alleged that there were various degrees of malpractices that marred the voting process, from electorates being prevented to vote, to some being forced to vote for the APC.
“Applying all standards, today’s supplementary poll is a non-event as all norms of electoral process are violated.
“Voters were deliberately refused access to polling points at gun points, those allowed to voting centers were forced to vote for APC, PDP party 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 awere hounded and arrested. It was a brutal unleashing of force against unarmed election stakeholders,” the statement said.
Furthermore, it accused the APC of trying to steal the mandate of the people but however, stressed that it will do its best to ensure the mandate is delivered.
“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 operation called election, we dissociate ourselves from this brazen shame and sham election.
“We stand on the mandate freely given to Ademola Adeleke, 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,” it said.