Ogun APC Kicks against Kashamu Victory

The Ogun State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has kicked against the victory of the Ogun East Senatorial Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in last Saturday election , Prince Buruji Kashamu, saying that the election was marred by gross irregularities, inducement and intimidation of voters, manipulation and falsification of results.

Addressing the press at the party secretariat at Olorunsogo, Abeokuta, the Deputy Director-General of Senator Ibikunle Amosun Campaign Organisation, Asiwaju Bisi Adegbuyi, on behalf of APC on the Ogun East National Assembly elections, said the party would use all legal means to challenge the victory of the PDP in the district.

He said the party had been “compelled to make public our position on some of the unfortunate occurrences, which made the results in some of the constituencies not reflective of the true wish of our people.”

‎The APC said: “We are particularly compelled to notify the entire world, through various media, of the undemocratic practices that attended the elections in the zone,

“The APC, hereby, categorically states that the election in the zone was marred by gross irregularities, inducement and intimidation of voters, manipulation and falsification of results.

“The results that were announced by the INEC do not reflect the wishes of our people in the zone.

“We therefore reject the results particularly the one from the East. We want the entire world to know that results as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reflected pre-determined, man‎ipulated and fictitious figures forged by a rigging machinery of PDP led by Kashamu.

“The APC is determined to challenge the results of the zone and the two House of Representatives seats within the confines of law.

“We have incontrovertible evidence‎ of manipulation that took place and the roles played by certain individuals. We will pursue this complaint to the highest level as permitted by the laws of the land. We will not give details of our plan at this point.

“However, we want to state, categorically, that that this charade, falsehood and misrepresentation of the wishes of our people will not stand.”

In his reaction, Kashamu said: “The claims by the APC are totally unfounded”, adding that
“Ordinarily, we would not have dignified them with a response. You can see that the statement is loud in noise and lacking in substance. If they say there was rigging, intimidation and manipulation, during the election, they should supply the details, rather than hide under some nebulous excuses that say nothing”.

“At any rate, the Electoral Act has made provision for the ventilation of issues arising from an election. They should go to the tribunal to prove their case. We will meet them there. If they say we rigged the only senatorial district that we won fair and square, it is also safe to say that they also rigged Ogun West and Ogun Central senatorial districts.”
Four persons have been feared death and 23 sustained casualties in a physical show down between Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, the Co-ordinator of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), and Earnest Obiejesi at Ihiala Council Area Anambra State.
According to an eyewitness accounts, Ubah stormed a collation centre on Sunday with his supporters from Nnewi Federal Constituency and allegedly bounced on Obiejesi accusing him of working against the ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Apparently taken a back at the action of Ubah, Obiejesi insisted that the area has concluded voting for the president hence no reason for the attack on him.
But tempers ran wild when the supporters of the duo took on themselves, while security operatives fired gun shoots sporadically leading to four persons, who were hit, being taken to Evans Specialist, Ozubulu, where they died, and over twenty-three others – including two policemen and an INEC ad-hoc staff injured in the process.
Daily Times learnt that vehicles belonging to Obiejesi were attacked by Ubah’s supporters and that he narrowly escaped from their fangs.
Irate youths of Ihiala, however, took on Ubah’s supporters chanting that he cannot come all the way from Nnewi to cause trouble in their town.
According to one Mr.Ifeanyi Mbakwe, who is a lawyer: “Our brother Obijackson is a staunch supporter of President Jonathan and he has contributed to the President’s campaign. Ifeanyi Ubah, by his action, has shown that, despite his exposure in business, he lacks the discipline and decorum in politics. His action has gone to show the type of person he is, if he is giving a public office to manage.”
When contacted, Ubah alleged that Obiejesi was working against Jonathan, adding that ballot papers for presidential election were dumped into gutters by Obiejesi supporters.
He further alleged that Obiejesi had attacked a frontline Ihiala leader, Chief ABC Ojiakor, for which he has to be checkmated.
Said Ubah: “They came with their thugs and we came with our own and we took them on and even stripped some of them naked.
“This man and his people were working against President Jonathan under the cover that APGA and PDP had an agreement. We had to move in to stop what they were doing.”
Confirming the report, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Emeka Ezeh, told Daily Times that some policemen were hurt during the incident but declined to confirm if there was any death.