INEC REACTS TO DEVELOPMENTS IN OSUN

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declined comment on the Osun Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal judgement and how it could impact on today’s supplementary governorship elections in Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Sokoto and Kano states.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Rotimi Oyekanmi, told newsmen that the electoral body could only make a comment after receiving and analysing the details of the judgment.

Also, the commission’s National Commissioner In Charge of Voter Education, Festus Okoye, who spoke from Bauchi, reiterated that the body would speak on the judgment after due consideration.

Osun state government, in a statement, expressed appreciation over the teeming support of the majority of the people in all things essential for mutual progress, adding: “As it is, the administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola wishes to assure the people that the judgment of the tribunal has been put on appeal.

“This is to further assure all the residents of the state of adequate security of lives and property, as the government of the state is still the only legitimate government having the authority to govern the state.“We assure all our people that justice will prevail at last and the law enforcement agencies have been instructed to maintain law and order across the State.

For his part, the state Chairman of PDP, Soji Adagunodo, in a statement in Osogbo, said words were not enough for members and indigenes to express themselves in appreciation of God for the victory He had given them at the tribunal, saying it was an act of God.

Adagunodo said he knew from the outset of the party’s struggle for the mandate that God would do justice and had done it and dedicated the victory to God and the people of the state for their faith in the PDP, Adeleke and the judiciary.

He said the judgment showed that the people in the judiciary are people of impeccable character and the last hope of the common man.

Adagunodo, however, stated that the party was ready for appeal, if the APC decides to appeal the case, noting: “It’s normal. If they decide to appeal the case, we are ready. We are testing the Nigerian judiciary and we are testing the Nigerian democracy.”