It was a twist of fate for the candidate of New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) in the just conducted Ogun State Local Government election as the State Independent Electoral Commission presented certificate of return to the counsellorship candidate of All Progressives Congress that lost the Imala Ward 14 in Abeokuta-North area of the state.
The election which was held on July 24 in the Imala ward had NNPP candidate, Oluyemi Adeddeji emerged the winner with 416 votes, while the candidate of the APC, Adenowo Ogundiran scored 410 votes
The result which showed that the NNPP candidate as the winner of the poll was announced by the OGSIEC returning officer in a widely circulated video.
But, things took new turn on Thursday when OGSIEC swore-in the candidate of APC who lost the ward to NNPP candidate by six votes.
A picture obtained by our reporter showed that certificate of return was given to the APC candidate who lost the election.
When contacted, the Chairman of OGSIEC refused to reply to the messages sent to him, while he couldn’t be reached on phone.
Also, when the OGSIEC commissioner 1, Tunji Akoni was contacted, he told this reporter that he could not speak on the subject matter.
He however redirected this reporter to the chairman of the electoral body who also refused to speak.
This has however led to protest in the NNPP camp.
The Chairman of NNPP, Olaposi Oginni told this reporter that the electoral body claimed they are setting up a committee to look into the Electoral result.
Oginni also alleged the APC leaders in the ward of threatening to upturn the result if the NNPP candidate that win the election did not join them.
The NNPP Chairman however noted that the action of OGSIEC showed they were brought to work for the success of APC in disregard to the rule of law and the constitution.
He also maintained that the action of the electoral body will be challenged in the court of law.
He added, “It’s obvious that Osibodu led OGSIEC are criminally minded to have perpetrated this heinous crime against the good people of Ogun State. It’s quite unfortunate that Ogun State is driven back into the dark era of infamous June 12 Annulment.
“The New Nigeria People’s Party under my watch in Ogun State is hereby calling on the Nigerian Police and the DSS to investigate these fraud and electoral malpractices by OGSIEC Chairman and his Electoral Officers.
“I hereby appeal to the good people of Ogun State most especially Youths of Ward 14 Imala Abeokuta North to maintain Peace and give the hierarchy of Nigerian Police and the DSS time to investigate and bring the perpetrators of these crimes to book.
