ILORIN- Two chairmanship candidates of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during Saturday’s Kwara local council elections, Mr Musbau Esinrogunjo and Mr Ismail Muhammed, have threatened legal action against the state’s Electoral Commission.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Esinrogunjo contested for the Ilorin West local government chairman’s position while Muhammed contested for the Ilorin East seat.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday in Ilorin, Esinrogunjo described alleged irregularities in the last Saturday election (Sept. 21, 2024). the election as “a charade with enough mockery to last the entire term of any successful candidate in office”.
He described the elections which took place on Saturday as a “broad daylight robbery where the government of Kwara was in connivance with Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC)”.
”They fraudulently took away the mandate that was freely given to me by the good people of Ilorin West Local Government,” Esinrogunjo added.
He alleged that Saturday’s Council polls were characterised by irregularities ranging from voter intimidation and harassment by security agencies, voter manipulation by officials, and vote-buying by government officials.
“Yet, the people of Ilorin West LGA who are known for their integrity and gallantry stood their ground and voted for us massively across all the polling units and electoral wards”.
Esinrogunjo however added that in the end “the unpopular government of Kwara overturned the results of the election”.
“The will of the people was subverted. Election results were announced at unknown places against all odds.
“To make the matters worse, they hurriedly swore in the candidates of their party who lost woefully in the field.
“This is a democratic coup that is not acceptable and will not stand the test of time.
“Even in most of the places where there was no election, they also announced winners. In most cases, they did not even allow our agents to sign the result they announced.
“The result of the councillors election were supposed to be announced at ward collations centre, while the result of the chairman was supposed to be announced at the local government secretariat which is the collation centre.
”But very unfortunate result, was announced at an unknown place,” Esinrogunjo hinted.
He however appealed to the populace to remain calm and peaceful, pledging “we shall do everything legally possible to defend the mandate you gave to me and reclaim it in due course.”
Speaking also, Mohammed of the Ilorin South local government assured that all PDP candidates would explore legal means to press for their mandate.
(NAN)
