*As INEC opens defence Wednesday

After calling 19 witnesses at the Edo State governorship election tribunal,  to attack the credibility and outcome of the September 21, 2024 governorship election that produced governor Monday Okpegholo, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, closed their case.

The decision was communicated to the Justice Wilfred Kpochi- led three-member tribunal yesterday by counsel to the petitioners, Mr. Robert Emukpoeruo, SAN.

In their petition, the petitioners who called 19 witnesses and tendered several documents and devices used for the disputed polls, urged the tribunal to nullify the election of Governor Okpegholo over alleged irregularities including over-voting and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, produced five additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, machines that were used for the election.

The electronic devices, which were tendered by a Senior Technical Officer in the ICT Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mr. Anthony Itodo, were admitted in evidence, amidst opposition from the camp of the respondents.
This is in addition to the 148 BVAS machines that had earlier been admitted in evidence by the tribunal for the conduct of the election in 133 polling units.
After the short proceedings, the  tribunal then adjourned till Wednesday for INEC to open its defence.
The electoral body had declared that Okpebholo of the APC secured a total of 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ighodalo of the PDP, who got a total of 247,655 votes.

However dissatisfied with the results, the PDP and its candidate approached the tribunal, praying it to nullify INEC’s declaration of the APC and Okpebholo as winners of the election.

In the petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, the petitioners argued that Governor Okpebholo of the APC did not secure the highest number of lawful votes that were cast at the election.

Daily Sun

The lawmaker representing the Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun State in the House of Representatives, Mr. Oluwole Oke, stated on Sunday that former Governor Rauf Aregbesola should “go and beg, prostrate, and make peace” with his “principal,” President Bola Tinubu.

In a social media post, Oke, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, emphasised that if he were in Aregbesola’s position, that is exactly what he would do.

The comment comes amid political tension in Osun State, where Omoluabi Progressives, a political group supported by Aregbesola, recently announced its departure from the All Progressives Congress in the state.

The decision followed prolonged and irreconcilable differences with the mainstream APC, which were fuelled by conflicts between Aregbesola and his successor, ex-governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

Multiple sources within the APC suggest that the rift that led Aregbesola to leave the party was partly due to a fallout with Tinubu over unspecified issues.

In his post shared on his official page, Oke, who confirmed the post to our correspondent, stated that if he were a member of the APC, he would have worked to ensure that Aregbesola and Oyetola reconciled their differences.

Oke also urged the PDP to seize the opportunity presented by the APC’s internal divisions, describing Aregbesola as a significant political figure in Osun State.

Oke wrote: “Egbon Rauf ‘Soji Aregbesola, former governor of Osun State and Minister of Interior, is an enigma – a grassroots mobiliser, singer, and dancer. He is a major force and a BRIDE in Osun politics, whether we admit it or not.

“If I were in his shoes, I would go and beg, prostrate, and make peace with my principal, PBAT. Assuming I were a member of the APC in Osun, I would ensure that Asiwaju Gboyega Oyetola and Ogbeni Aregbesola reconcile. As we know, ‘Ija o dola’ – fighting doesn’t bring wealth.”

Oke advised the PDP to move quickly to gain from the political impasse within the APC.

He described Aregbesola as a “bride” in Osun politics, stating, “The PDP must act fast, pay the necessary dowry, and bring this ‘bride’ into their fold. Symbol, as he is popularly known, is not someone you let wander.”

Reflecting on Aregbesola’s time as governor, Oke continued: “Even though I wasn’t in Aregbesola’s party – AC, ACN, or APC – I still won my elections. The secret? The great people of Ijesa North. In the Ife/Ijesa Senatorial District, Ogbeni can still pull a minimum of 20,000 votes. In Ijesa North and Ijesa South, Ogbeni’s influence is undeniable.”

Oke stressed the importance of bringing Aregbesola into the PDP, adding, “Any politician who can invite 10 to 20 people to a meeting, feed them, and provide them with a token afterward should not be ignored.”

He concluded by stating, “Baba Kabiru is a factor in Osun politics. Please keep this post and get back to me after 2026.”

PUNCH

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ajibola Basiru, has assured that the governorship primary of the party in Osun State will be free and fair.

He hinted that the governorship candidate may emerge through a consensus arrangement of the party leadership which will be acceptable to members of the party.

Speaking in Osogbo, during the inauguration of coordinators of his group, Alubarika Movement, on Sunday, the APC scribe noted that APC is a party of leadership and all interest will be taken care of, when it is time.

He said the inauguration of the state coordinating council in local government and wards for the Alubarika Movement was to work towards ensuring that APC unite to take over power from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in 2026.

He said, “The primary election will be free and fair but I can assure you that the candidate may emerge from consensus arrangements by leadership of the party.”

On the allegation by the PDP that APC is dividing them, Basiru said, “Ambition of a few individuals is what is causing the rift within the opposition party and it is to the joy of us as a ruling party if they don’t get their house together. It is not our job to help them put their house in order.”

Asked whether the agitation within the APC will not divide the party, Basiru maintained that APC can not be divided, saying “Our party is a party of leadership and as I said, everybody that is a member of the party has legitimate desire to ensure that we have a candidate that will be able to deliver and defeat the PDP.

“In Ondo state for instance, there were 16 aspirants and we were able to get the right candidate that was able to deliver for the party. The same thing in Edo, we have more than 16 there and we resolved the matter. Everybody has the right to aspire to be leadership in the party,” Basiru said.

He said the PDP in Osun has failed in the area of education, health and empowerment, saying “Will it not suprise you that the budget of the governor’s house is far more than the budget of agriculture, education and health combined.

“It is a government that has no direction. Even the so called flyover they are doing, it’s being done without any project management sense and it shows lack of coordination, lack of leadership and lack of focus of the government.”

The state chairman of Alubarika Movement, Alhaji Kehinde Olagoke, said members of the APC in Osun are looking for how to get back to government house, and the only way out is to have the best and a good candidate on ground.

Daily Sun