Mixed reactions currently trail the inconclusive by-election of Ilaje/Ise-Odo constituency as the three major political parties, the ruling Labour Party (LP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressive Congress (APC) that participated in the inconclusive express varied views over the outcome
The LP, through its election agent, Mr Banji Okunomo expressed disappointment over the decision of INEC to cancel votes of some units that have led to supplementary election.
According to Okunomo, who was a former interim Chairman for Ese-Odo local government, INEC should have gone ahead to announce its party candidate as winner since he had scored the highest votes.
He added that his party was not responsible for all the irregularities such as hijacking of election materials, snatching of ballot papers among others.
He stressed that the electoral body should have apologised to the people instead of refusing to announce the winner.
The PDP Director of Publicity, Ayo Fadaka commended INEC and security agents for declaring the election inconclusive despite pressure to declare LP candidate winner.
His words, “We view with all seriousness the fact that the by-election of the Ilaje Ese Odo Federal Constituency was declared inconclusive. This is because of the many terrible acts of Governor Olusegun Mimiko who erected several road blocks on the path of attaining a free and fair election.
“The past four weeks leading to the election saw Mimiko relocating the seat of governance to a hotel in Okitipupa where he planned his onslaught on how to compromise the election. He in the most careless manner spent close to N2billion, bribing Obas, Baales and community leaders and also recruiting thugs he deployed across the federal constituency. It is this irresponsible action that finally culminated into this development.
“We however commend INEC for organising a credible election and also congratulate all the security agencies for their professionalism and vigilance during the conduct and collation of the results.
“We also use this opportunity to call on the people of the areas where supplementary election will be conducted to brace up to cast their votes for a Party that has the pedigree which the PDP represents”
APC Election agent, Chief Wole Iwaye has also called for a total cancellation of the exercise.
Meanwhile, the INEC commissioner in charge of South West, Prof. Lai Olurode said the Commission would meet to fix a date for the supplementary election for units and wards where the votes were cancelled.
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