Elections: IPAC hails INEC, security agencies over peaceful, credible poll in Ogun

…congratulates Abiodun, urges aggrieved parties to seek legal means

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Ogun State has applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting what it described as a “credible poll” during last Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly elections in the state.

The Council equally commended the security personnel for making the elections peaceful by providing adequate security for the voters and INEC personnel throughout the conduct of the exercise.

The Ogun State Chairman of IPAC, Samson Okusanya, gave this commendation, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the March 18, 2023 elections, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Friday.

Okusanya, who also doubles as the State Chairman of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), flanked by other executive members of Ogun IPAC, said that the early mobilization of both human and material resources at various polling units across the state, contributed immensely to success of the elections.

While noting that the early transmission of results from the polling booths in the state helped to validate the integrity of the electoral exercise, he declared that the last governorship election in the state was better organised than the previous elections.

“We commend INEC for early commencement of voting in majority of the polling units in Ogun State. We also commend INEC for the early transmission of results in most of the constituencies in the state”, the IPAC chairman stated.

Okusanya, however, expressed the Council’s disappointment over the conduct of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ladi Adebutu, for the unruly manners by which he led protesters to storm the state headquarters of INEC after a winner had been declared, emphasizing that “such conduct is inimical to the peace of the state”.

While congratulating Governor Dapo Abiodun on his re-election, he urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress governorship candidates to tow the line of honour by seeking legal means, rather than engaging in street protests or inciting the public against the constituted authority.

“We congratulate the winner, Dapo Abiodun. His victory is a refreshing one to every common man and ultimate will of God. We want to make this known to Nigerians that everything as stipulated by the Electoral Act has come to play.

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“It is a very serious development in the political terrain of Nigeria, so we thank the political actors and the electorate for the successful conduct of the elections”, Okusanya added.

The IPAC chairman charged Governor Abiodun to remain focused to deliver on dividends of democracy and assured him of the utmost co-operation of opposition political parties in order to move Ogun State to a new level, saying IPAC would not fail to give positive criticisms whenever it is warranted.