The Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Benjamin Adereti, has said the party will accept the outcome of Saturday’s governorship election if the process is conducted in a free, fair and credible manner.
Adereti gave the assurance amid rising concerns over political tension and reports of violence ahead of the poll, stressing that the APC was not prepared to seek victory at the expense of the safety and lives of Osun residents.
Speaking during an interview on Beyond the Headlines with Nifemi Oguntoye on TVC News on Wednesday, the APC chieftain said the party remained committed to a peaceful electoral process.
“We accept the results of a free and fair election in Osun,” Adereti said.
‘No Blood Is Worth Any Political Office’
The APC deputy governorship candidate also pledged that neither he nor the party would encourage violence or retaliate against attacks during the election.
Condemning political violence, he insisted that no elective office was worth the loss of human life.
“No blood of any Osun citizen is worth any political post in any election,” he stated.
Adereti further promised that the APC would not shield any member found to have participated in acts of violence.
“If any member of my party, the All Progressives Congress, is caught in any of such situations, I can assure you that my party will willingly, voluntarily submit such person for immediate prosecution,” he said.
Confidence In Security Agencies
The APC candidate expressed confidence in the ability of security agencies to maintain peace during the election and urged them to create an environment in which voters could cast their ballots without fear or intimidation.
“I want to trust the state actors. I want to trust the intelligence. I want to trust that the security forces have what it takes to ensure that we have a peaceful election,” he said.
He emphasised that the election should be guided by the principle of one person, one vote, adding that the will of the electorate must ultimately determine who governs the state.
“We want a peaceful election, one man, one vote. No crisis, no rigging, no cheating of any sort. We want the will of the people to count,” Adereti declared.
APC Optimistic Of Victory
Despite his assurance that the party would accept a credible outcome, Adereti expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious in the election.
According to him, the party had carried its campaign across local government areas, wards, markets, traditional institutions and other sectors of Osun State, and believed it had secured the support of voters.
“We have spoken. We have engaged. And we know that the people have made up their mind. We are not losing this election,” he said.
He nevertheless reiterated that the APC’s position remained that the election must reflect the genuine choice of the people of Osun State.
The governorship election is expected to be keenly contested, with political parties and security agencies intensifying preparations ahead of Saturday’s poll.
