Oyo governor-elect, Seyi Makinde
The Oyo State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday submitted a petition against the governor-elect and Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) candidate, Mr. Seyi Makinde, to the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party in the petition accused Makinde of what it described as “breach of electoral laws”, and called for his immediate arrest and prosecution.
The petition addressed to the Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, and entitled “Petition AgainstSeyi Makinde on Electoral offences committed in breach of electoral laws,” was submitted to the Agodi office of the commission yesterday.
But, the PDP dismissed the petition, saying the 45- second video had never led to any form of violence as been claimed by the ruling party.
In the petition, Makinde was accused of releasing a video in the early hours of yesterday where he “pointedly proclaimed himself winner of the governorship election in Oyo State when INEC, the authorised umpire has not concluded same nor declared any such results.”
The petition signed by the APC state secretary, Mr Mojeed Olaoya, said Makinde by the action clearly incited the citizenry against an eventual credible outcome of the elections.
However when contacted, the Director General, Omi Tuntun Campaign Organisation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said Makinde only did what any peace- loving, law- abiding candidate would do to ward off violence in his domain, challenging the APC to look for another allegation.
Oyelade said, “In the first place there was no breakdown of law and order traceable to the 45 seconds video by our candidate. Our candidate did what any peace- loving, law-abiding candidate will do to ward off violence from his domain. The governor-elect said that his people have spoken and that their voices have been heard loud and clear. What is offensive in that? Let them look for another allegation.”
•Excerpted from THISDAY report
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