Results of the Osun State Gubernatorial election are already trickling in and supporters of the All Progressive Congress, APC, have taken to the streets in wild jubilation as the incumbent Governor Rauf Aregbesola, leads in most of the wards’ results already announced.
The APC has clear lead in Atakumosa, Ayedaade, Ayedire, Boluwaduro, Boripe, Ede north, Egbedore, Ejigbo, Ife east, Ifedayo, Ifelodun, Ilesa, Ila, Irepodun, Irewole, Iwo, Obokun, Ola-Oluwa, Olorunda, Oriade, Orolu, and Oshogbo.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has so far won in Ife Central, Ife north, Ife south, Ishokan and Odo Otin.
Results released altogether show the APC polling 394,684 votes while its closest rival, the PDP garnered 292, 747 votes.
This seeming victory for the party is significant because it is coming amidst allegations of intimidation and molestation against members of the APC.
In the days leading up to the election, the APC had alleged that there was a grand plan by the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to disenfranchise some members of the APC and distort election results in favour of the PDP.
On the day before the election, the national publicity secretary of the APC, Lai Mohammed, was arrested by security agents in Osogbo, along with Sunday Dare, the media aide to the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the deputy chief of staff to Ogun State Governor, Afolabi Salisu.
They were arrested by a team of soldiers and Defence Security Service, DSS agents while they were heading to the Government House, and taken to an unknown destination in an unmarked truck.
Narrating his ordeal on Saturday, Mohammed said his Gestapo Style arrest by hooded security agents in Osogbo on Friday night, for no reason beyond the fact that he belonged to the opposition, shows the level of illegality, lawlessness, anarchy and intolerance to which Nigeria has descended under the watch of President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said, ”From our encounter with our tormentors, there is also no doubt that these were not just soldiers and DSS officials, thy were ex-militants and thugs, all clad in army and DSS uniforms but apparently lacking in any training! We also witnessed how men in military and DSS uniforms fired their guns at the gate leading to the residence of Senator Isiaka Adeleke to force it open.”
Speaking with newsmen shortly after he cast his ballot, Governorship candidate of the PDP, Iyiola Omisore, confirmed arrest of the APC chieftains “for various electoral offences”.
He specifically mentioned the arrest of Osun State Deputy Governor, Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, whom he accused of having about N20 million cash in her possession with which she woed voters
He however expressed confidence in the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deliver on a free and fair poll.