THE All Progressives Congress Party (APC) in Osun state has accepted defeat following the victory by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Bye-election that was conducted yesterday in the state to fill the vacant seat at the Senate left by late Senator Isiaka Adeleke
The chief returning officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Osun, Professor Olaide Lawal of Oye Ekiti University had said that Ademola Adeleke of PDP polled 97,480 votes to defeat Mudashiru Hussain of APC who polled 66,116 votes.
In an acceptance statement issued to newsmen, the APc in Osun congratulated both the PDP candidate, Adeleke on his victory and the people of Osun on their choice and for their peaceful conduct during the election.
It said although the party was defeated, however, that “election for us is not an end in itself but a means to an end.”
The statement read thus:
“Bye-election was held yesterday to fill the vacant Osun West Senatorial seat.
“This became necessary following the death of one of our leaders, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who was elected in 2015 and held the post until his demise on 23 April.
“Senator Mudashir Husain, who had occupied the post between 2011 and 2015, but was asked to step down for the late Isiaka Adeleke, was fielded by our party. After a keen contest, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ademola Adeleke, was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“We congratulate the people of the 10 local governments that participated in the election for their peaceful conduct and on the choice they have made. We equally commend the APC led federal and state government for ensuring peaceful, free and fair election.
“We also congratulate Ademola Adeleke for his victory and we hope that now that the election is behind us, he will put partisan politics aside to represent the interest of the entire people of his constituency.
“Although the outcome is contrary to our expectation, the people have spoken and we heard their voice loud and clear. As democrats, we respect their choice. The people of Osun West Senatorial District have stood by us in past elections and have always voted for our tendency since the colonial era.
“We are proud of them. We are proud of our party and we are proud of all our members and sympathisers. We shall study the pattern of the result, learn the right lessons from it and return stronger for the next election.
“We shall remain resolute in our commitment as a political party to the welfare of our people, building them up today in order to prepare them for a better tomorrow.
“We are a party of the people. Election for us is not an end in itself but a means to an end – which is to best represent the interest of the people. We have been consistent, irrespective of the outcomes of elections, favourable or unfavourable.
“Our greater concern has always been the people and their welfare. We are therefore assuring our people that we are still the party that guarantees better life for them, maximum social protection in the provision of free education, economic empowerment and life more abundant.”
