Osun bye-election: My victory, new dawn for democracy, says Adeleke as Bode George, PDP react

Chief Ademola Adeleke, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate in Saturday’s Osun West Senatorial District bye-election, has described his victory as a new dawn for democracy.
Adeleke said, at a news conference on Sunday in Ede, that his electoral victory was “a pointer that PDP will be victorious in the 2018 governorship election in the state’’.
Adeleke scored 97,480 votes and won in nine of the 10 local government areas where the election was held.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mudashiru Hussain, polled 66,116 votes and won in only one local government area.
The late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, the first civilian governor of Osun State, was occupying the senatorial seat until his death on April 23.
His younger brother, Ademola, who initially was contesting on the ticket of APC, defected to PDP, a day before the party’s primary, when APC leadership denied him the ticket.
He subsequently defected to PDP and was given the party ticket to be its candidate in the election.
The senatorial district comprises 10 local government areas.
He said: “We are working hard to ensure that the 2018 governorship election in Osun is won by PDP.
“My victory is a new dawn in the history of our democracy.
“Our democracy is growing where an incumbent will be there and opposition will defeat the incumbent.
“This is a rare gem and this shows that our democracy is improving.
“We want to make sure that there is nothing like rigging anymore, no matter how you try, we want our democracy to grow.”
Adeleke, however, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security operatives for ensuring that the election was free and fair.
He commended the people in the senatorial district for coming out en-masse to vote for him.
Adeleke also commended journalists for their sense of professionalism in the coverage of the election.
“I can assure you that I will continue from where my late brother left it and that is why I tag my campaign Continuity,’’ he said.
Adeleke said he would engage in social welfare programmes for people in the district.
“I have budgetted N250 million for students’ scholarship, empowerment programme for women as well as free mobile medical care,” the senator-elect said.
Meanwhile, former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, in his reaction, said since the people of Osun West Senatorial District “have spoken, their decision should be accepted by all”.
He congratulated Ademola Adeleke “for a victory well deserved” and also congratulated Senator Iyiola Omisore for his selflessness and sacrifice “in this great victory”.
Also, PDP National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff, congratulated Adeleke.
Sheriff, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja issued by the acting spokesman of the party, Mr Bernard Mikko, also congratulated the electorate in the senatorial district on the victory.
Sheriff attributed Adeleke’ victory to hard work, dedication and commitment of PDP faithful in Osun.
“We thank all the electorate for their loyalty, particularly our grassroots mobilisers who worked tirelessly to make this victory possible.
“The significance of this victory is obvious and the leadership of the party at all levels will consolidate and earn this trust and confidence reposed on the party,” Sheriff said.
He also commended PDP, Osun Working Committee, party elders, youths and the traditional rulers for the warm reception given to him and his entourage during their house to house campaign.
The chairman promised that PDP would not fail the electorate, adding it would sustain the late Adeleke’s legacy.
“We give glory to God and dedicate this victory to the loving memory of the late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke whose legacy will be championed by his successor.
“I wish to assure all loyal PDP members, nationwide, that the era of blatant impunity is over and no form of indiscipline or distractions will be tolerated in the party.”
The National Secretary of the Party, Prof. Adewale Oladipo, in a separate statement, described the outcome of the poll as a reflection of the wishes of the electorate.
Oladipo commended security agencies, INEC and other stakeholders, especially the electorate for their peaceful conduct during the polls.
He said that the peaceful conduct of the by-election had shown clearly that all hope was not lost in the nation’s electoral system.
“We are very happy as a political party; the outcome of the election reflected the wishes of the Osun West Senatorial District electorate.
“The INEC personnel, the security forces and the general electorate, by their exemplary conduct, have made a great contribution to deepening our hard-earned democracy.
“The future of the country is very bright, if INEC will continue to handle future elections in the country as it did in the Osun bye election.”
Oladipo also commended Sheriff-led National Working Committee for allowing the people to pick the candidate of their choice in person of Adeleke and ensure his the party’s victory, in spite all odds.
He said that with what happened in the bye-election, the days of impunity in whatever form were over in the running of the affairs of the party.