vows legal action to retrieve mandate
By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Ilorin West local government council in the just concluded local government election in Kwara State, Comrade Esinrogunjo Musbau, has described the election as “a democratic coup
that is not acceptable and will not stand the test of time”.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday in Ilorin, the state capital, Musbau appealed to the
people of Ilorin West LGA to remain calm and peaceful, and not to take the laws unto their hands, vowing “We shall do everything legally possible to defend the mandate you gave to me and reclaim it in due course.”
According to the PDP chairmanship candidate, the election was “a broad daylight robbery where the
government of Kwara State in connivance with the Electoral Commission fraudulently took away the mandate that was freely given to me by the good people of Ilorin West LGA.”
He said: “The Saturday Council poll was characterised by lots of irregularities ranging from voter intimidation and harassment by security agencies, voter manipulation by the officials of KWASIEC, to vote buying by government officials.
“Yet, the people of Ilorin West LGA known for their integrity and gallantry stood their ground and voted for us massively across all the polling units and electoral wards in the Council Area, but the government of Kwara State 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 sworn in the
candidates of their party that 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 were no elections, they also announced
winners, in most cases, they did not even allow our agents to sign the results they announced.
“The result of the councillors were supposed to be announced at Ward collation Centres, while the result of the chairman was supposed to be announced at the Local Government Secretariat which is the collation centre, but unfortunately the result was announced at an unknown place.
“I want to appeal to all the good people of Ilorin West LGA to remain calm and peaceful. I urge you not to take the laws unto your
hands. We shall do everything legally possible to defend the mandate you gave to me and reclaim it in due course. We are known to be law abiding citizens and so shall it be no matter the provocation.”