By Mike Adeyemi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate in the November council poll, Comrade Musbaudeen Esinrogunjo has threatened to embark on mass protest if bye-election is not conducted in Adewole ward, Ilorin West.
While speaking with Pilot Politics on Friday, Esinrogunjo insisted that election at Adewole ward was inconclusive, beckoning on the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) to do the needful by conducting the election.
According to him, “If the KWASIEC fail to do the needful as stipulated by the Electoral Act that stated bye-election should be conducted two weeks after an inconclusive election,” he will lead a massive protest in the state to showcase the party’s displeasure to the violation of electoral act.
He alleged that during the election, the APC led with just 1000 vote and about 15,300 voters in Adewole ward were yet to vote.
“The KWSIEC official said Adewole election is inconclusive, and the electoral law says in such instance, a bye election should be conducted two weeks after the election”, so why the delay?, he asked.
He said he had requested the court to invalidate his opponent in the race announced as the winner by the commission.
On, Fagbemi’s case, Esinrogunjo said, “I don’t know what Fagbemi wants”. If you contested an election with someone, and that person defeats you three times, I wonder what you want.
He further said, even if the court mandated Fagbemi on us as the state chairman, it mean we are going to leave the party for him, Esinrogunjo explained.
He said they didn’t sign a life contract with the PDP adding that Oyedepo remains the PDP chairman in Kwara”.
Esinrogunjo said for about 17 years, he has been a Saraki loyalist until he had disagreement based on some issue with the dynasty.
He said ‘I have volunteered myself to Kwarans and wherever they want me to go when it is time we will go. Election is all about mission and calculation.
Speaking on the bye- election, the KWASIEC PRO, Mr. Akanbi Solomon said the decision of the by-election rested solely on the Kwara state government, and it is decision of the government to give a date for it as there are some clauses in the electoral laws that give rooms for perpetual injection.
He said the financial implication of the election rested squarely on the state government and soon the Kwara state government would fix a date for it.
