By Seyifunmi Odunuga
The gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), in Ogun State, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has again declared that he is not satisfied with the outcome of the 2023 gubernatorial election in the state.
Ajadi Oguntoyinbo noted that many residents of the state who were ready to vote for the party, could not find the name of the party on the ballot paper as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) omitted the name of the party on the ballot papers during the election.
He noted that as a result of this, he is not satisfied with the outcome of the election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on 18th March 2023.
Oguntoyinbo made these disclosures during his investiture as patron of the Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Oyo State Council on Saturday.
The event which was held at the NUJ secretariat in Ibadan was attended by the former Board Chairman of, the National Lottery Commission, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, former Chairman of Oluyole local government and Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the late former governor Lam Adesina, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, NUJ Chairman, Comrade Ademola Babalola and Chairman of the chapel, Comrade Raji Adebayo.
Others are; South West Publicity Secretary of NNPP, Kilamuwaye Badmus; Ogun State Chairman of the NNPP, Prince Ibrahim Adekunle, Ogun State Publicity Secretary, Comrade Kehinde Olowu; Oyo State NNPP PRO, Olaitan Femi Hero and NNPP Ogun state women leader, Precious Foluke Bagbansoro
Oguntoyinbo who spoke on the topic, “Contesting in Nigeria’s 2023 general elections: Ogun state experience”, insisted that he had a terrible experience during the campaign.
The NNPP candidate while speaking on his experience added that he survived several attacks, intimidations and threats from sponsored thugs and hoodlums.
He then insisted that he and his political party are not satisfied with the outcome of the elections because many eligible voters who wished to vote for the political party were disenfranchised.
According to him, “I am not comfortable with the outcome of the election due to how INEC robbed our party because they know that Nigerians are clamouring for a new Nigeria.
“As a result that they do not want any political party to come up aside from the two giant political parties in the country; APC and PDP. And as a result of that Nigerians found it difficult to recognise only the logo while the INEC omitted our party’s name on the ballot papers during the election.
“Because other political parties’ names were seen on the ballot papers, they saw the name aside from the logo on the ballot papers. The constitution of Nigeria does not only recognise logos without names on the ballot papers.
“Even, if the political party did not write them they should know that they are supposed to write the name of the party which is New Nigeria’s Political Party (NNPP). I have a copy of the letter sent to them from the national that this party’s name is not included in the ballot papers that they should correct, but it is so unfortunate that on that very day, on the day of the election, the presidential election, we found out that the name of our political party was missing on the ballot papers.
“I wrote a letter to INEC in Ogun state that the governorship election coming up, that they should make sure that our political party name is included in the ballot papers they are going to print, but it is so disappointing that one the day of the governorship election, we could not find the name on the ballot papers.
“So, therefore we went to court that the INEC has failed Nigerians because people cannot recognise our political party and we were struck out that they cannot do anything about that. The second appeal which happened to take place in Ibadan here, the judge did not even look at the ruling of the tribunal. It is so unfortunate that the judiciary is corrupt in the sense that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) that we gave money to represent us did not appear at the appeal court.
“If we are going to re-contest the election again, I am sure of my party’s victory in the state. If we are to conduct the election again, I am sure of my party’s victory”.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel, Raji Adebayo appealed to the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review the implementation of the subsidy removal policy and hasten the palliatives to cushion its effects.
He implored Tinubu to channel the proceeds from subsidy to infrastructural developments.
“It is with great joy that I welcome you all to the first edition of this lecture since our executive came on board in the last nine months and the Investiture of our lecturer, Hon Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo the gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections in Ogun state.
“The experience is everywhere, even though we are experiencing post-election happenings presently, among which is the removal of fuel subsidy, and I think every one of us is feeling the impact of a policy. This is why we all have to participate in the electoral process because whether you like it or not, the effects of a poorly implemented policy can disrupt the lives of those who voted and those who did not vote.
“But I will appeal to the federal government under the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review the implementation of the policy and hasten the palliatives to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal. We implore him to channel the proceeds from subsidy to infrastructural developments. We need good roads, medical facilities, education, and particularly security”.
