Osun guber: Youths shutdown Osogbo in protest

Hundreds of youths on Tuesday locked down Osogbo, the Osun State
capital to protest the outcome of the September 22, 27, governorship
election and rerun respectively.

The youths, under the aegis of Ademola Adeleke Youth Empowerment
Scheme (A-YES) commenced the procession from the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, Secretariat and terminated it at the popular Oja-Oba
market in the metropolis.

The Coordinator of the scheme, Mr Adewunmi Isaac in an interview with
journalists said the procession was also conceived to commend the
electorate for their doggedness and undaunted spirit "in the face of
harassment and intimidation by the ruling All Progressives Congress
(APC)".

Isaac added that though, majority of the people in the state were not
happy with the outcome of the exercise, it was paramount to appreciate
the people for the confidence they reposed in the PDP candidate.

He further reiterated the resolve of the organisation to completely
reject the results of the exercise and take necessary action in the
face of law.

He described the alleged manipulation of the poll as "most audacious
electoral robbery of our recent history", which he said "shall not
stand."

"We are on the street today to express our appreciation to the people
of the state, especially the electorate who had deemed it necessary to
cast their vote for Ademola Adeleke, the PDP candidate, even in the
face of oppression.

"The electoral process was a total subversion of the will of Osun
people; the mandate that was freely gave to Ademola Adeleke was stolen
in broad daylight, and we are not happy about this, but we still need
to express our appreciation to the people", Isaac said.

He enjoined the people of the state, especially the youths, to remain
calm, saying their mandate would soon be retrieved.

The PDP Chairman, Soji Adagunodo, in his remarks said the procession
was an indication that people of the state were dissatisfied with the
outcome of the election.

Adagunodo, who commended the people for conducting themselves
peacefully, described the outcome of the election as "a daylight
robbery, a brazen subversion of the will of the people and direct
assault on democracy."

Adagunodo added that judging from the results from the polling centres
across the state, it was obvious Adeleke won with a "comfortable
margin."