Osun poll: I’m not aware of Oyetola’s loss, APC chairrman claims

All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on Sunday claimed he was not aware the party’s candidate, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola loss the Saturday, July 16 governorship election in Osun State.

Adamu spoke on Sunday after the Independent National Electoral Commission announced the Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the election, Ademola Adeleke, as the winner.

Reacting to his loss in the election, the governor said the leadership of the APC in the state would respond to the result of Saturday’s governorship poll after studying it.

He equally called on his supporters to remain calm, and go about their respective businesses without fomenting trouble or resulting to violence.

But Oyetola’s loss in Saturday’s poll came to the APC national chairman as a surprise.

Adamu, while speaking on an Arise TV programme on Sunday, denied having knowledge of the winner of the Osun governorship election.

The APC national chairman said, “With due respect, my dear brother, I am just really hearing this from you. I have not formally heard the announcement from INEC, which is the independent commission responsible for election in Nigeria.

“I have not heard from them yet. Once I hear formally from INEC, I can be in a position to answer this particular question.”

When reminded that the results and the breakdown of the ballots from the 30 local government areas were all over the pages of major newspapers across the country, Adamu maintained his stand.

“Between me and you, I have not formally heard from INEC and I have not read the papers you are talking about. I do read some papers on my table before I have my breakfast but I haven’t done that today yet,” he said.

When also prodded further on whether the party will accept defeat after he finally sees the result and breakdown of voting pattern, the APC chair stuck to his gun.

He said, “I don’t like pre-empting my situation. You need to be patient. Since you got the result, wait for me too to receive it. You can get back to me and I will be willing to talk about it.

“Until I hear from INEC formally or my people in the control room confirm that it is the result, of course, I will abide by it. But hearing the result first from you is unacceptable. You are not INEC.”

According to him, he has yet to even speak with the APC candidate after the poll that gave the opposition PDP the victory.

“I haven’t spoken to him yet,” he said.