Ekiti update: Fayemi carrying a stolen mandate , Ekiti  PDP alleges

Wole Balogun,  Ado Ekiti

The party boasted that they would deploy every constitutional means to retrieve what it called a ‘ stolen mandate’ from the former governor, Adding that the party would challenge the election in court.

Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti on Monday on the outcome of the election, the party’s Chairman in Ekiti, Barr. Gboyega Oguntuase, accused the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and security of conspiring to subvert the will of the electorate.

Oguntuase alleged the two federal government bodies of allocating  votes to Fayemi, just to disgrace Governor Ayodele Fayose, who has consistently been posing as the major opposition to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Oguntuase said over 20 members of the party, including the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Dipo Anisulowo and four of his aides

among others were arrested by combined forces of military and paramilitary security outfits and clamped in detention on the day of

election.

He described the governorship poll as an embarrassment to democrats across the globe, saying APC governors spending humongous amount that could have been used to develop their states to buy votes signposted that the party has no interest of the masses at heart.

He said: “What  did they need 30,000 police officers for in Ekiti when criminals were killing Nigerians in other states? Ekiti people knew

they were in our state for a task and not to protect their votes and that was why there was no jubilation or ceremony anywhere in the state after the election.

“This election was far from being free, fair and credible. In Ilejemeje, Ilawe, Ikole, Ise/Orun ,  Oye , Ado  and other major towns in Ekiti , many of our people were beaten by APC thugs being aided by the security men.

“As we speak, the results declared by INEC to give victory to Fayemi was more than the number of accredited voters. So, where did they get the additional votes they added?

“We are going to use every constitutional means to retrieve this stolen mandate, it is just a matter of time.

“APC mobilized over N11 billion to buy votes in Ekiti. They came here to perpetrate electoral perfidy and such will not stand”, he stated.

Oguntuase stated that the federal government deliberately delayed June allocation to Ekiti to create impression that Fayose was owing

salaries and to sway votes for APC.

On those arrested and detained members , Oguntuase told the police to release them to the party, saying : “We are not going to tolerate excuses that they had escaped from detention when they cannot be found anywhere from police.

“They must not just  be released immediately to us, they must also be hale and hearty”, he added