Eight All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers, shunned the presentation of certificates of return by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Senators and Federal House of Representatives members-elect in Osun state. The elected lawmakers, who were noticeably absent at the event include; Senator Olusola Adeyeye, representing Osun Central; Senator Babajide Omoworare, representing Osun East and Senator Isiaka Adeleke, representing Osun West. Others are Mr. Ajibola Famurewa; Mr Olufemi Fakeye; Mr Adeyinka Ajayi; Mrs Hulayat Omidiran; and Mr Akintayo Amere. All efforts to reach the absentee senators, proved abortive but the APC spokesperson in the state, Kunle Oyatomi, said that it was not a party decision. While presenting the certificates to the lawmakers, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, stated that the presentation was to satisfy the Electoral act 2010 (as amended). He added that the event was to redefine the electoral landscape and conduct of elections to ensure transparency, fairness, freedom of choice by the electorate in a peaceful environment. He then presented certificates of return to Prof. Mojeed Alabi (APC), Mr Albert Adeogun (PDP), Mr Yusuf Lasun (APC) and Mr Busayo Oke (PDP), who all attended the programme. All the absentees were asked to collect their certificates at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. Some of the lawmakers after collecting their certificates commended INEC for conducting a credible poll. One of them, Busayo Oluwole Oke, added that Nigerians would be vigilant to see if APC would fulfill its electoral promises. Oke, who won the Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun State, on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party said, “Being in opposition does not mean being an enemy of the state or being an enemy of the government. “Our duty is to form a shadow government in line with International democratic practices and to hold the majority party to its electoral promises and to ensure that they discharge their duties constitutionally so that at the end of the day every Nigerian will benefit from the governance.”
Daily Times
