Hottestgistnaija.com
It has become necessary to call the attention of Lagosians, Nigerians
and lovers of democracy across the world to the drama unfolding in
Ajeromi Ifelodun Federal Constituency as the result of the election
conducted on 23rd February, 2019 is yet to be declared.
You will recall that elections were conducted on 23rd February, 2019
for the offices of the president, senators and representatives across
the country, Ajeromi Ifelodun federal constituency inclusive. While results have so far been announced and winners declared, the same cannot be said of Ajeromi Ifelodun federal constituency.
The Electoral Officer who was saddled with the responsibility to
conduct and supervise elections in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government
Area (covering Ajeromi Ifelodun federal constituency), Mr. Adelaja with his collaborators ‘within and outside’ INEC embarked on manipulation of results to subvert and rig the election in favour of
his preferred candidate, the flag bearer of APC who clearly lost the
election to Hon. Rita Orji (by the virtue of the collation of original
results announced at the polling units, though INEC is yet to announce
the collation).
Mr. Adelaja, the erstwhile Electoral Officer who conducted the
election on behalf of INEC assumed he is above the law and could
single-handedly, without shame, brazenly rig the election to favour
his candidate in the election, the candidate of the ruling party, APC.
Hence, he arrogated the power to destroy some of the original result
sheets of elections conducted at the polling units and went ahead to
annul them under false claims. These were elections validly conducted and announced at the polling units.
The lawlessness was perpetrated in order to do the bidding of his
paymaster who bribed him heavily to compromise the process. His
shenanigan to reduce Hon. Rita Orji’s overwhelming votes and margins are unimaginable in an attempt to mislead INEC to declare the election
inconclusive. The 71 polling units, Mr. Adelaja wanted a re-run had
results. As pointed out in earlier press conference, this is the alternative route Mr. Adelaja bargained with his ‘paymaster’ to steal
the votes validly given in favour of Hon Rita Orji. In his bid to justify call for a re-run, he and his collaborators apart from
destroying some of the original results in INEC custody, also
tampered with some materials including doctoring results collated. (We
shall confront Mr. Adelaja, his deputy, Bunmi and their cohorts with their mess and they will soon face the music)
However, we have our copies of the original results for 67 polling
units out of the 71 polling units. Elections were conducted at the
polling units, results were declared and pasted at the polling units
where agents were given their copies including the security agents.
The compromised EO should also be reminded that election was conducted at the polling units and not collation centre. Figures at the
collation centre should reflect figures announced at the polling units. He does not have the power to change figures either to add or reduce.
It is also curious that elections at the same polling units for the
offices of the president and senate were announced while results for the House of Representative maliciously withheld. What a brazen act of
malpractice.
There is also a valid court order directing INEC to declare the
results of the elections as conducted and announced at the polling
units. It is already a week when ruling was given by court – 4th April, 2019. We do not expect any further delay from INEC. We already know who the winner is: Hon. Rita Orji. The margin is unprecedented. Hon. Rita Orji won convincingly. We urge you to declare the result and announce her
officially without delay. She and the electorates in Ajeromi Ifelodun
should not be subjected to this harrowing experience because she does not belong to the ruling party. You will recall that it is against the backdrop of this undue delay that the court awards monetary compensation in favour of Hon Rita Orji against INEC.
We strongly appeal to the leadership of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, the
National Chairman as a
matter of urgency to direct the Resident Electoral Commissioner to comply with court order and ensure the Returning Officer declare the results of the election.
The conspiracy going on in INEC office, Lagos State calls for concern. The signals from the Resident Electoral Commission with continued delay calls for concern. Mr. Adelaja, the Admin Secretary and other collaborators are not fit in INEC and a decent society. We have several evidences of their
dubious and wicked manipulations (when we get to the juncture…they
shall face it)
Charles Ejimadu
Director General
Hon. Rita Orji Campaign Office
