CSOs: The most popular candidate won Osun poll

Eight civil society organisations have given approval to the Osun state governorship election, saying the most popular candidate won.

Isiaka Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had defeated Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Controversies had trailed the exercise over reports of violence and intimidation of voters but the groups said the election was largely peaceful.

They congratulated the people of the state for their “civil, peaceful and orderly conduct in jealously guarding their mandate and proving that the will of the people is supreme in a democracy”.

The groups praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “for exhibiting professionalism and neutrality despite threats, intimidation and blackmail before and during the election”.

Representatives of the groups are Olufunke Adesina, Centre for Women Agenda (CWA),  Adedapo Ajisegiri,  Campaign against Social Injustice (CASI); Omotosho Hakeem, Centre for Sustainable Dialogue (CSD), Oyedokun Alli, Development Advocacy Group (DAG), Jerry Nwachukwu, Rights Monitor Agenda (RMA); Wale Adeoye, Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) and Samuel Bakare, Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC) and Ajayi Popoola, Coalition for Peaceful Election (COPE).

“We, the undersigned civil society organizations as election observer groups, heartily congratulate the good people of Osun State for trooping out to the polls both on the 22nd of September and on the 27th September, 2018 rerun election, to elect the state’s helmsman whose outcome is a reflection of the will of the people as expressed at the polls,” the statement read.

“We as well congratulate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for exhibiting professionalism and neutrality despite threats, intimidation and blackmail before and during the election.

“We note with gladness that INEC deployment of its personnel and materials on election day was timely, efficient and has received accolades from all relevant stakeholders for a superlative performance.

“We equally commend the international and local observers for their high sense of responsibility in observing the process according to global best practices.

“We commend the media for its professional and unbiased coverage which is critical to deepening democracy and ensuring societal stability.

“In as much as we recognize that no election anywhere in world can be perfect, we call on the security agencies to investigate this allegations and do the needful.

“However, we make bold to state with all emphasis, that these allegations does not in anyway distract from the fact that, the will of the people as expressed at the poll, has triumphed.”