toluk: .When they win, Its free and fair, when they loose, Its rigging..Bunch of propagandist..

Sincere9gerian: Meanwhile, all those wild allegations are coming from a man who has vehemently refused to allow Osun people to elect their local govt chairmen and councillors in the last 3+ years. These guys in APC are just shameless hypocrites.

basty:

You just join and don dey throw knife sebi, if you old na gun you go dey throw

sage2: What an ingrate. Not even a word of praise for the electoral officers.

Emessy: What God Has Put Together ...... Man Of The People #no rice needed

obayaya:

Osun has 1.45 million voters!!! But only 990k voters were eligible to vote yesterday ( Those who were issued permanent voters card)

APC had 394,684 votes, while PDP had 292,747 giving a total of 687431 votes. if I add votes for other smaller candidates and invalid votes.. I'll approximate total votes cast to 700k

700k/990k is around 70%

People felt secured with military men around. They were relatively sure no hoodlum will try to snatch ballot box or cause violence. Hence they trooped out in mass

obayaya:

I understand how he feels!!! Security clamped down on his party men!!! And that's very wrong especially If those men were clamped down for no just cause.

But discrediting the process and downplaying the voter turnout is not the right thing to do.

toluk: .When they win, Its free and fair, when they loose, Its rigging..Bunch of propagandist..

born2lead01: AUGUST 10,2014
ELECTORAL VICTORY SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OSUN, HIS EXCELLENCY, RAUF AREGBESOLA
DEMOCRATIC VICTORY OVER THE TYRANNY OF POWER

After an unnecessarily tense, tortuous and even traumatic process, the Independent National Electoral Commission this morning declared me as the winner of the Osun state governorship election on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC). On behalf of my party, we are delighted to claim victory for our hard work, focus and dedication in this election. I thank the Almighty God for our triumph at the polls, against all odds.

To the good people of State of State goes our unflinching gratitude. We salute your steadfastness, courage, loyalty, commitment and fierce determination to defend your sovereign rights and the integrity of our nascent democracy. You have demonstrated in this election that in a democracy, power truly belongs to the people. I am humbled and honoured by your trust and abiding faith in me and my party. I pledge that your confidence in us shall never be betrayed or taken for granted.

Ordinarily, this should be a moment of joy and celebration consequent upon the hard earned triumph of the people’s will. However, this election shows that democracy is still gravely endangered in Nigeria. We witnessed gross abuse of power and, of due process before, during, and even after the actual voting process. It is so sad and unfortunate that what should be a normal, routine process was maliciously allowed to snowball in to a needless virtual war by the Federal Government and the PDP.

The State of Osun was unduly militarized in an unprecedented manner through criminal intimidation and psychological assault on our people. This election witnessed an abuse of our security agencies and amounted to a corruption of their professional ethics and integrity.
The security agencies were unprofessionally utilized in Osun state to harass, intimidate and oppress the people whose taxes are used to pay their salaries and provide their arms. Hundreds of leaders, supporters, sympathizers and agents of our party were arrested and detained. Also, hundreds of other innocent citizens including women and the aged were harassed, brutalized and traumatized. In spite of this condemnable repression and abuse of human rights, the unflagging spirit of our people triumphed.

Our victory is due to the steadfastness and resolute determination of our people to assert and defend their rights. The PDP obviously did all it could in a most desperate manner to steal the people’s mandate. A critical analysis of the elections shows a trend of general low voter turnout largely because of the atmosphere of deliberate tyranny and fear caused by the excessive militarization of the state. Despite our victory, it is pertinent to condemn and also point out the fact that the number of accredited voters in most local governments was less than half of registered voters. Against this trend, it is curious that the bulk of the PDP candidate’s votes came from only four Local Governments- namely Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North and Ife South. This suggests an inexplicable large turnout in his stronghold which is a curious departure from the general trend of voting across the state.

The outcome of this election, once again, shows the unswerving determination of our people to ensure that democracy triumphs in Nigeria. We have sent a strong signal to all and sundry that no might is powerful enough to thwart the will of the people. This should always strengthen our resolve to ensure that as from now on, every vote must not only be counted but must count in this country. Nobody or party must ever exercise power unreasonably at any level except in accordance with the will of the people to whom sovereignty belongs.

Let me assure the good people of Osun state that I appreciate that this victory is a reward for our hard work and commitment to the welfare of our people. I promise that we shall not rest on our oars but shall be spurred to work even harder with all well meaning people of the State of Osun and the generality of Nigerians to continue to enjoy your trust and support. You can be assured that we will leave no stone unturned in our continued effort to transform Osun into a land of progress, prosperity and peace for all with renewed fervour. I realize that this victory and the challenges we went through is a call to greater service and sustained commitment to our people. I pledge a rededication of myself to the service of our people and the strengthening of democratic values in Osun and Nigeria generally. Our country remains in political bondage and we must set her free.

san316: So if militarisation is the panacea to electoral fraud, what happens in 2015. How many soldiers will gej hav to deploy to each state? PS: i agree that the military presence was a deterrence against electoral thuggery.

Justcash: See APC O. LMao. So, they feel that if GEJ wants to "OBASANJORIZE" them, that they will breath? Are you kidding me? See speech o! This governor no even recognize the reforms in INEC. In want GEJ to return MAURICE "KOLANUT" IWU as INEC CHAIRMAN?
These guys need to encourage GEJ to continue the political change that he is instilling. Our forefathers said that the fact that a tall man bowed to a dwarf does not mean that he has become a dwarf. These guys should not make GEJ ANGRY O! Hia!

san316: So if militarisation is the panacea to electoral fraud, what happens in 2015. How many soldiers will gej hav to deploy to each state? PS: i agree that the military presence was a deterrence against electoral thuggery.

fyneguy:

Are you in Osun state?

The truth is that the over-militarization worked against the PDP. Some people who ordinarily were indifferent to this election saw it as PDP's way of rigging and decided to go and vote.

obayaya:

Which in my opinion isn't necessary!!!

Recent turnout already shows that the so called "militarization" increases voters' turnout!!!

Ekiti was 49% Which was a record high!!! And now Osun is a whooping 70%!!!!

If the militarization increases voter turnout, how on earth is it wrong?

veraponpo:

Only if you know what it means for the leaders of a party to be arrested just a day to an election. Jesus said if the Shepherd is arrested ,the sheep will be scattered . When Jesus was arrested all the 12 disciples fled. Now we are not talking of just one or two leaders who were d target but more than hundred leaders of the party.

The intimidation from FG is unnecessary. Let people choose their leaders by choice not force

obayaya:

That's the challenge!!! "Militarization" is not a long term solution. Honestly I do not know how they'll manage in 2015. I've given a lot of thought to that. And I must confess, it's going to be difficult.

Emessy: What God Has Put Together ...... Man Of The People #no rice needed

jaybee:

SHUT UP MY FRIEND; GEJ AND HIS COHORTS ARE FAILING AT EVERY SLIGHT OPPORTUNITY. ALL HIS ANTICS ARE GLARINGLY BARE. HE IS GOING! GOING!! ........

solomakindees: Someone should tell Aregbe to stop riding on open vehicles o.
If a masked sniper fires, na die be dat o!
Only the living rules...the dead are buried.
This second term, rule with fear of God o, see how Fashola messed up on LASU fees.

san316: Well, it's indeed goina b a challenge. My theory is: There will be militarisation in state in which APC is perceived to have advantage and security will be loose in PDP strongholds. Everything is politricks in Nigeria.

obayaya:

Let's hope that isn't the case!!! It is unfortunate that there'll be no election in PDP controlled state before 2015 so we can test this your hypothetical theory.

But then, Adamawa might be a litmus paper to test that on