The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has maintained that no election was held in the Remo Federal Constituency by-election, accusing Governor Dapo Abiodun of turning the exercise into “warfare.”

PDP Director of Media and Communication, Hon. Akinloye Bankole

The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressive Congress, APC and Ogun Sate Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun of masterminding what it described as a “grand robbery” against democracy in the just-concluded Remo Federal Constituency by-election.

In an exclusive interview on Frontline, a currents affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, the party’s Director of Media and Communication, Hon. Akinloye Bankole, alleged that no credible election took place in the constituency, insisting that the outcome announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not reflect the will of the people.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Sunday, declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adesola Elegbeji, as the winner of Saturday’s Remo Federal Constituency of Ogun by-election.

The Returning Officer, Kazeem Bello, made the declaration at the Ikenne collation centre in the early hours of Sunday.

He affirmed that Elegbeji satisfied all electoral requirements and therefore stood elected as the new representative of Remo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Bello said that Elegbeji polled a total of 41,237 votes to defeat his closest rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Bolarinwa Oluwole, who garnered 14,324 votes.

The returning officer explained that, at Ikenne local government, APC scored 10,227, PDP got 5,595, while at Remo North local government, APC garnered 8,053, PDP 992 and at Sagamu local government, APC won with 22,958, with PDP scoring 7,737.

Reacting to the victory, Bankole insisted that the result INEC made public was never a reflection of a credible electoral process.
He said “What happened in Remo on Saturday, was never an election, it didn’t even come to the smallest parameter of measuring a credible poll. There was never an election. What we saw, as an eyewitness, it was a grand robbery from governor Dapo Abiodun against the innocent people of Remoland. Perhaps the only polling unit was Dapo Abiodun’s ward. We shouldn’t even be taking about election; It was a warfare between the people and the state government”

“Sporadic gunshot started as early as 5am in Ilara, a quiet town in Remo LG, as early as 6am, sporadic gunshots led by the military in Sagamu LG, in Iperu the hometown of The Governor and our own leader Hon Adebutu, you need to see what happened there. People were saying it.”

He accused the security agencies of taking part in rigging the elections, giving an instance where a policeman was seen drinking beer while on duty in uniform.

“In the presence of Police officers, they were saying if you’re not voting for APC and you’re in the queue, it is better to save your life now, vacate this queue and go home. They were beating and killing. Completely manned handymen in various polling unit is not an election.”

“Whatever result INEC made public can never be a true reflection of any credible electoral process.

Dapo Abiodun knows this. The kind of slogan, songs the governor was singing on public podium while campaigning shows it was warfare. It’s a sad day for us, because he’s meant to be a Prince, a reputable one, before he’s even a Governor.

Bankole also gave an update on the detained state party chairman, Abayomi Tella, assuring that he was in good health and had not been maltreated while in custody.

“I was with the Chairman yesterday and I can confirm to you that he is in good shape and strength.At the state headquarters in eleweeron Abeokuta and there’s no form of maltreatment meted to him”.

On allegations of vote-buying, the PDP spokesperson dismissed reports linking the party to financial inducement. According to him, the money allegedly found with an INEC official could not reasonably be tied to vote-buying.

As for the allegations of vote buying, you begin to ask yourself, the money that was allegedly seen with the INEC (#2.5M) is that enough for vote buying?  Democracy is expensive and that money is not even the up to the amount somewhere tickets are sold so what are we saying? The man himself never confirmed he received money from the PDP chairman, if you conduct the interview and deep investigation, you’ll see that there’s no affiliation between them. The whole thing was a setup, an orchestrated attempt to dampen the spirit of the party. The truth will still be made know”

This is an election going on in the state, where he acts as the Party Chairman, Gov Dapo Abiodun has mobilised everyone from every part of the state to ensure the election goes in their favour. The governor is from Remo same as him.,” Bankole said.

Asked if the party will carry out legal actions to challenge the results, he said the party will have a sit-down with the candidate to decide and also follow due process to ensure the release of the detained party Chairman, Hon Abayomi Tella.

THEY THREATENED TO SHOOT ME IF I CAME OUT TO VOTE-OLUWOLE

Asiwaju Bolarinwa Oluwole

On his part, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Remo Federal Constituency by-election, Asiwaju Bolarinwa Oluwole, also alleged that no election took place across the constituency, citing widespread irregularities, threats, and violence.

Oluwole claimed that voters in parts of Sagamu, Ikenne, and Remo North were denied the opportunity to cast their ballots. He alleged that political thugs intimidated residents and disrupted the process.

“They threatened to shoot me if I came out to vote,” he said. “At Ward 7, Isale Ejigbo, if you voted for any party, they tore the ballot papers. Journalists witnessed it; nobody voted.”

The PDP candidate further alleged that ballot boxes were snatched in several polling units and that his supporter, identified as Hon. Alaba, was shot in Ikenne Local Government during the unrest.

“The town is in mourning. The only ones jubilating are those who received peanuts. No one is happy with the supposed victory; people are crying and cursing. This is daylight robbery—it is beyond rigging,” Oluwole lamented.

He also accused political opponents of orchestrating the violence while sparing certain strongholds such as Akarigbo’s constituency, claiming they knew they could not influence the votes there.

“We have videos, and we will release them to expose their lies and gimmicks. Nigerians fought hard for democracy, but what Ogun State has witnessed today is the killing of that democracy,” he added.

Oluwole urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure fairness and transparency in the electoral process in Remo Federal Constituency, stressing that he remained confident of victory if a free and fair contest was conducted.

While the August 16 by-elections in 16 constituencies across 12 states was reportedly marred by violence, rigging, vote-buying and intimidation, President Bola Tinubu earlier congratulated the winners. In a statement, the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the President commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting hitch-free elections, mostly devoid of violence.

Despite the allegations, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun described the victory of APC in Remo Federal Constituency election as a new chapter in the democratic journey of Ogun State.