PRESS RELEASE NATIONAL COALITION OF OGUN STATE VOTERS (NCOSV) CALLS ON ABDULRASHEED BAWA AND MATTHEW URHOGHIDE TO INVESTIGATE THE RESIDENT ELECTORAL COMISSIONER (REC) IN OGUN STATE; OLANIYI IJALAYE.

 We write to express our profound displeasure on this obvious rape of our democratic mandate, as perpetrated against the good people of Ogun State in the just concluded governorship election. We had hoped that the electoral commission would do the needed arithmetic to enable them understand that the total number of votes in units that were cancelled is greater than the margin between the supposed winner and the runner-up. Thus rendering the elections inconclusive.

This principle of margin of lead is established explicitly in the electoral act. Similar scenarios in other states and legal precedents abound, but all of those were jettisoned. 

To watch the certificate of return handed over to a winner in an inconclusive election is gross injustice to the voters of Ogun State.

We have in good authority, preponderance of evidence to show that there was wide disparity between the results recorded at the polling units and those announced at the coalition centres.

We stand to to say that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Olaniyi Ijalaye must be investigated for alleged inducement. 

We call on the EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa and other relevant authorities to please come to our aid.

What was witnessed in the field on the 18th day of march was a high level of thuggery, planned and orchestrated by the APC to unleash mayhem in some of the polling units. All of which points to the level of desperation expressed by the purported winner to secure victory at all cost.

We call on the Chairman, Senate committee on public accounts; Sen. Matthew Urhoghide and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the deployment and utilization of the humongous resources deployed to INEC for the procurement of technological devices that failed abruptly. To also investigate the funds spent on training staff and polling agents, many of whom still could not operate the BVAS nor accurately document balloted votes into the respective forms.

We strongly believe that if we don't rise to the occasion and address these shortcomings within our electoral system and bring collaborators and perpetrators of these dastardly acts to book, our dear country will most likely spiral into comatose.

The inability of INEC to learn from experience, consistently operating in circles, confronted by the same unsurmountable challenges every four years. Always conducting general election as though it was its first, must be rejected and effectively checkmated.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

It's our humble appeal that you do all within your power to address this mishaps. 

Be assured of our highest regards.

Signed:

Comrade Segun Adedayo

Coordinator NCOSV.