APC Rejects INEC’s Declaration of Adeleke as Osun Governor, Cites Discrepancies in Valid Votes
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the Osun State governorship election, asserting that its preliminary assessment indicates he did not secure the highest number of valid votes cast.
The party’s stance was articulated by Oluwole Oke, the Director-General of the APC Governorship Campaign Council in Osun, during an appearance on Arise TV on Monday night.
Oke disclosed that the APC had already initiated a comprehensive audit of the election process and had directed its agents across the state to submit copies of Forms EC8A, EC8B, and EC8C for meticulous scrutiny.
The party’s leadership emphasized that it would thoroughly examine all electoral records and inspect relevant materials before finalizing its next course of action.
“We do not agree with the declaration of INEC. That’s our position for now. We believe he did not score the highest valid votes,” Oke stated.
The campaign director-general clarified that the APC would not rush into any further action until it had reviewed all election records and established the facts surrounding the results declared by INEC.
He underscored that the process demands a painstaking examination of documents from polling units, wards, and local government collation centers.
“When you have a project of this nature with the outcome announced by INEC, we will not be in a haste, nor shall we be under pressure without doing the needful.”
“The needful that we need to do is to evaluate the process, get all the records, review the process, and then form an opinion.”
Oke confirmed that the party had embarked on an audit process, urging all its agents to submit copies of the aforementioned forms to the party’s secretariat for review. He stressed the necessity of inspecting the electoral materials to ensure accuracy and fairness.
“We have embarked on an audit process. We have asked all our party agents to submit copies of Forms EC8A, B, and C to our secretariat for review. We need to inspect the materials.”
The APC chieftain noted that the findings from this exercise would determine the party’s official position, which would be made public in due course.
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He also revealed that the party was examining pre-election issues, indicating that its review would extend beyond the votes cast on election day.
Oke elaborated on the party’s approach, stating that it would assess the conduct of the poll against the provisions of the Electoral Act and other relevant laws before deciding whether further action was warranted. He emphasized the importance of a meticulous and transparent review to uphold democratic integrity.
“There are a lot of issues before us. There are a lot of issues for determination, even on a pre-election basis.”
“Even for the election itself, I’ve just told you that even if it’s just for the records and the future, we are determined to look at all the records, look at the processes put in place by the Electoral Act and relevant statutes.”
“Until we do that and form our opinion, we won’t be able to go further to say anything on this.”
APC Addresses Internal Divisions, Denies Impact on Election Performance
In a separate segment of the interview, Oke addressed allegations of internal divisions within the APC, dismissing suggestions that such disagreements significantly influenced the party’s performance in the election. He argued that political parties naturally experience disputes, but these do not necessarily impede their ability to unite during elections.
Oke cited the Accord Party as an example, claiming that despite its internal conflicts, the party’s chairman had publicly endorsed the APC candidate. He highlighted that divisions within political parties are not uncommon and do not inherently prevent members from rallying behind a common goal.
“If you are talking about internal divisions, even the Accord Party itself is divided. The chairman of the Accord Party endorsed our candidate openly in public.”
“Within a political party, disputes and misunderstandings are bound, but the fact remains that the party comes together at the polls to ensure victory.”
“It’s not new in a political party to have divisions. Clearly, even the Accord Party themselves went to court over who is the rightful candidate of the party at the poll.”
The APC’s campaign director-general reiterated that the party would withhold its final position on the governorship election until it had completed its review of the results and other electoral materials. He assured that the party’s leadership was committed to a fair and thorough evaluation of all relevant documents and processes before making any further statements or taking additional steps.
The APC’s rejection of INEC’s declaration and its decision to conduct an independent audit reflect the party’s determination to uphold transparency and ensure electoral integrity in Osun State. The outcome of this review is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the party’s next course of action, which could include legal challenges or further public statements.
As the APC continues its assessment, the political landscape in Osun remains highly charged, with stakeholders closely monitoring developments. The party’s findings, once released, are anticipated to have significant implications for the state’s political future and the broader democratic process in Nigeria.