Hundreds of youths on Tuesday locked down Osogbo, the Osun State capital to protest the outcome of the September 22, 27, governorship election and rerun respectively.
The youths, under the aegis of Ademola Adeleke Youth Empowerment Scheme (A-YES) commenced the procession from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Secretariat and terminated it at the popular Oja-Oba market in the metropolis.
The Coordinator of the scheme, Mr Adewunmi Isaac in an interview with journalists said the procession was also conceived to commend the electorate for their doggedness and undaunted spirit “in the face of harassment and intimidation by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)”.
Isaac added that though, majority of the people in the state were not happy with the outcome of the exercise, it was paramount to appreciate the people for the confidence they reposed in the PDP candidate.
He further reiterated the resolve of the organisation to completely reject the results of the exercise and take necessary action in the face of law.
He described the alleged manipulation of the poll as “most audacious electoral robbery of our recent history”, which he said “shall not stand.”
“We are on the street today to express our appreciation to the people of the state, especially the electorate who had deemed it necessary to cast their vote for Ademola Adeleke, the PDP candidate, even in the face of oppression.
“The electoral process was a total subversion of the will of Osun people; the mandate that was freely gave to Ademola Adeleke was stolen in broad daylight, and we are not happy about this, but we still need to express our appreciation to the people”, Isaac said.
He enjoined the people of the state, especially the youths, to remain calm, saying their mandate would soon be retrieved.
The PDP Chairman, Soji Adagunodo, in his remarks said the procession was an indication that people of the state were dissatisfied with the outcome of the election.
Adagunodo, who commended the people for conducting themselves peacefully, described the outcome of the election as “a daylight robbery, a brazen subversion of the will of the people and direct assault on democracy.”
Adagunodo added that judging from the results from the polling centres across the state, it was obvious Adeleke won with a “comfortable margin.”
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