INEC declares Oyetola winner of Osun poll

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Isiaka Oyetola, candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the Osun state governorship election.

Joseph Fuwape, returning officer of the election, made the declaration at the head office of the commission in Osun.

Fuwape said Oyetola polled 255,505 votes to defeat Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who had 255,023 votes.

Adeleke was leading by a margin of 325 votes in the election which held on Saturday but INEC declared the exercise inconclusive, saying the requirements for a winner to be declared were not met.

It subsequently fixed a rerun for Thursday. The rerun held across seven polling units in four local government areas.

The PDP has rejected the election, describing it as a charade.

Uche Secondus, national chairman of the party, had said the election exposed APC rigging formula for 2019.

Speaking with TheCable at his Ede residence earlier on Thursday, the PDP candidate accused INEC of conspiring with the ruling party to thwart the will of the people.

He said the state was under siege during the rerun, lamenting the attack on his supporters.

“This is not a free and fair election. Osun state is under siege; we are at war in Osun. They didn’t allow my party to vote,” he said.

“It’s only APC people they allowed to vote. INEC and security agents have compromised. So, there is no election in Osun today. I urge INEC to cancel the election with immediate effect and declare me the winner because I’ve already won the election. ”

Voters, observers and journalists were attacked across the seven polling units where the exercise held.