Why We Declared Osun Gubernatorial Election Inconclusive – INEC

Segun Atanda/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why the gubernatorial election in Osun State was declared inconclusive today.

According to INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof Joseph Adeola Fuwape, the differences between the two leading parties is just 353.

He said in a broadcast today: “…According to election guideline, where the margin of win between two leading candidates is not in excess of the total number of registered voters of the polling units where elections were cancelled, a candidate or a party may not be returned.

“From the analysis of results that we have, the difference between the two leading parties is just 353; and the number of voters in units where elections were cancelled is 3498.

“With that difference, unfortunately as the Returning Officer, it’s not possible to declare any party as the clear winner of this election on the first ballot.”

Going by the results from the 30 Local Government Areas announced by INEC today, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with 353 votes.

According to Fuwape, the ruling APC polled 254,345 votes while PDP scored 254,698 votes.

The election was monitored by not less than 50 International observers, 40, 000 policemen, 14 APC state governors, eight ministers, many senators, party stalwarts and APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu among others.

There were reports of ballot box snatches that led to the cancellation of results in some areas.

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