Osun Election: My Victory, Strong Signal To Jonathan, PDP – Aregbesola …Amaechi, Jonathan, Others Hail Victory

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has declared the incumbent Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the winner of the 2014 governorship elections.
The Returning Officer, Professor Bamitale Idowu Omole, who made the pronouncement at the INEC collation centre along Abere road, said “I hereby declare Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, having satisfied the provision of the Electoral Act, is hereby declared the winner of the Osun State governorship election.”
The APC candidate won elections in 22 out of the 30 local government areas of the state scored a total of 394,684 to beat his main rival and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, ODP, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
Omisore, who won in eight local government areas, scored 292747 votes.
A breakdown of the final results shows that Sen Sunday Fajimi of the Alliance for Democracy scored 1,982; Aregbesola of the. APC scored -394,684, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade of the Labour Party scored 8,898, Senator Iyiola Omisore of the PDP scored 292,747, while the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Elder Sunday Akinwusi scored 534.
Re-elected Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, has described his victory as “Democracy Victory Over The Tyranny Of Power”.
Aregbesola defeated Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore by 394,684 to Omisore’s 292,747.
In his acceptance speech he said: “After an unnecessarily tense, tortuous and even traumatic process, the Independent National Electoral Commission this morning declared me as the winner of the Osun State governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). On behalf of my party, we are delighted to claim victory for our hard work, focus and dedication in this election. I thank the Almighty God for our triumph at the polls, against all odds.
“To the good people of Osun State goes our unflinching gratitude. We salute your steadfastness, courage, loyalty, commitment and fierce determination to defend your sovereign rights. You have demonstrated in this election that in a democracy, power truly belongs to the people. I am humbled and honoured by your trust and abiding faith in me and my party. I pledge that your confidence in us shall never be betrayed or taken for granted.”
“Ordinarily, this should be a moment of joy and celebration consequent upon the hard earned triumph of the people’s will. However, this election shows that democracy is still gravely endangered in Nigeria. We witnessed gross abuse of power and, of due process before, during, and even after the actual voting process. It is so sad and unfortunate that what should be a normal, routine process was maliciously allowed to snowball in to a needless virtual war by the Federal Government and the PDP.”
“Osun State was unduly militarized in an unprecedented manner through criminal intimidation and psychological assault on our people. This election witnessed an abuse of our security agencies and amounted to a corruption of their professional ethics and integrity.”
“The security agencies were unprofessionally utilized in Osun State to harass, intimidate and oppress the people whose taxes are used to pay their salaries and provide their arms. Hundreds of leaders, supporters, sympathizers and agents of our party were arrested and detained. Also, hundreds of other innocent citizens including women and the aged were harassed, brutalized and traumatized. In spite of this condemnable repression and abuse of human rights, the unflagging spirit of our people triumphed.
“Our victory is due to the steadfastness and resolute determination of our people to assert and defend their rights. The PDP obviously did all it could in a most desperate manner to steal the people’s mandate. A critical analysis of the elections shows a trend of general low voter turnout largely because of the atmosphere of deliberate tyranny and fear caused by the excessive militarization of the state. Despite our victory, it is pertinent to condemn and also point out the fact that the number of accredited voters in most local governments was less than half of registered voters.
“Against this trend, it is curious that the bulk of Senator the PDP votes came from only four Local Governments- namely Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North and Ife South. This suggests an inexplicable large turnout in his stronghold which is a curious departure from the general trend of voting across the state.
“The outcome of this election, once again, shows the unswerving determination of our people to ensure that democracy triumphs in Nigeria. We have sent a strong signal to all and sundry that no might is powerful enough to thwart the will of the people.
“This should always strengthen our resolve to ensure that as from now on, every vote must not only be counted but must count in this country. Nobody or party must ever exercise power unreasonably at any level except in accordance with the will of the people to whom sovereignty belongs.
“Let me assure the good people of Osun State that I appreciate that this victory is a reward for our hard work and commitment to the welfare of our people. I promise that we shall not rest on our oars but shall be spurred to work even harder with all well meaning people of the State of Osun and the generality of Nigerians to continue to enjoy your trust and support.
“You can be assured that we will leave no stone unturned in our continued effort to transform Osun into a land of progress, prosperity and peace for all with renewed fervour. I realize that this victory and the challenges we went through is a call to greater service and sustained commitment to our people. I pledge a rededication of myself to the service of our people and the strengthening of democratic values in Osun and Nigeria generally. Our country remains in political bondage and we must set her free.
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Sunday congratulated Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on his victory in Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
The president made this known in a statement signed by Reuben Abati Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) read thus
“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan congratulates Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on his victory in Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
The President commends the Independent National Electoral Commission and national security agencies for ensuring that the elections were free, fair, credible and peaceful in keeping with the avowed commitment of his Administration.
President Jonathan also applauds the people of Osun State who came out en masse yesterday in all the local government areas of the state to peacefully and freely exercise their democratic right, trusting in his assurance that all necessary measures would be taken to ensure their safety and the sanctity of their votes.
The President believes that the free, fair and peaceful conduct of the elections have fully reaffirmed his administration’s determination to positively reform Nigeria’s electoral processes.
The outcome of the election has also given the lie to the false, unfair and uncharitable allegations that measures put in place by the federal government for the Ekiti and Osun State elections were partisan and designed to achieve a favourable outcome for his party.
“As Governor Aregbesola prepares to begin a second term in office, President Jonathan looks forward to continuing to work with him and other state governors to further improve the living conditions of Nigerians in Osun and other states of the country.
“He wishes Governor Aregbesola continued good health and a successful second term in office,” Abati said.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has hailed Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on his victory in Saturday’s election.
Amaechi also congratulated the people of Osun State and his party, the All Progressives Congress, on the victory.
The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. David Iyofor, yesterday, explained that the victory was well deserved, saying, “It goes to show that the people of Osun decided to vote wisely. They chose sustainable development and good leadership.”
He, however, expressed confidence that other states across the nation would follow the example of the people of Osun in 2015 and beyond by embracing the change offered APC.
Similarly, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the opposition to learn from the Saturday Osun State gubernatorial election.
In a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party however advised the opposition to desist from actions and utterances that were capable of overheating the system as well as create room for violence.
Hailing President Gooduck Jonathan for creating a peaceful environment for the election, the PDP described the Osun State governorship poll as “a clear testimony to President Goodluck Jonathan’s unparalleled commitment to peaceful elections in Nigeria.
“The PDP hail the President for “creating the enabling environment for Osun people to freely and peacefully exercise their franchise without rancour or blood-letting”.
The party also commended “the security forces for their display of professionalism in keeping the peace throughout the exercise despite provocations by desperate politicians.
“The lesson from this election is that the opposition party should stop crying wolf where there is none.
They must desist from actions and statements that cause confusion and create unnecessary tension, capable of igniting violence and blood-letting in elections.”
Calling on its members and supporters to remain calm, the PDP also commended the people of Osun for adhering to rules and conducting themselves in an orderly manner during the election.

Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, commissioning the water project built by her in Okrika last Friday. With her are Rivers Deputy Chairman, All Progressives Congress, Prince Peter Odike (left) and other personalities. Photo: Chris Monyanaga