TheCable

Senate President Bukola Saraki says the “open intimidation and harassment of voters” in the Kwara house of representatives bye-election is sending a wrong signal ahead of the 2019 general election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Raheem Ajuloopin, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the bye-election in Ekiti/Oke-Ero/ Irepodun/Isin federal constituency.

He polled 21,236 votes to defeat his closest opponent Saheed Alatise of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who came second with 18,095 votes.

The election was conducted following the death of Funke Adedoyin, member representing the constituency.

In a series of posts on his Twitter page on Saturday, Saraki accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of bringing security operatives and thugs into the state to intimidate voters, which resulted into a low turnout.

He said the election was held under “tensed and militarized conditions”, while security operatives openly supported the APC and harassed PDP leaders and their supporters.

The senate president added that even officials of INEC complained about their own safety.

He said such “open display of intimidation and misuse of security operatives” will undermine democracy if not checked.

We thank the people of Ekiti/Oke Ero/Isin/Irepodun who came out to vote today — defying the heavy intimidation and the siege laid by the security agents and thugs invited into the 4 LGAs by the APC. #KwaraByElection

— Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) November 17, 2018

The public should note that today’s #KwaraByElection was simply between PDP and security agents plus APC. This was due to the heavy deployment of police, soldiers and other security agents who gathered to support APC and harass PDP leaders and supoorters.

— Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) November 17, 2018

This is the first time that elections in Kwara State will be held under such charged, tensed and militarised conditions. We had INEC officials complaining about their own safety — and PDP supporters were brazenly intimidated, which resulted in low turn out of voters.

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— Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) November 17, 2018

It is important to reiterate that ahead of the 2019 elections, such open displays of intimidation are sending wrong signals. Our democracy is being undermined with this misuse of our nation’s security apparatus. #KwaraByElection

— Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) November 17, 2018

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This is the first election since the defection of Saraki from APC to PDP.