INEC declares Osun election inconclusive, fixes rerun for Sept. 27

The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared last Saturday’s Gubernatorial election in Osun State as inconclusive even as it fixed Thursday, September 27, for the rerun.
The Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof. Joseph Fuwape made the announcement amidst mix reactions.
Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 254,698 votes, while Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 254, 345 votes.
Senator Iyiola Omisore of Social Democratic Party (SDP) followed with 128,049.
But a total of 3,498 votes were cancelled across seven polling units, which is more than the 353 votes that gave Adeleke an edge over Oyetola.
Prof Fuwape said “Based on the results collated by the Returning Officer, the margin between the two leading candidates is 353 which is lower than the number of registered voters in the affected areas. Extant law and INEC Guidelines and Regulations provide that where such a situation occurs, a declaration may not be made.”
According to INEC, the affected polling units where the rerun election will take place are: one in Ife North; two in Ife South; three in Orolu; and one in Osogbo.
While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) believes that its candidate Senator Ademola Adeleke should have been returned as the winner, the All Pregressives Party (APC) hailed the decision.
Yekini Nabena, the APC National Publicity Secretary said: “We hereby reject the PDP’s baseless calls that the inconclusive Osun governorship election should be announced in its favour,” he said.