The National Rescue Mission (NRM) has rejected the outcome of the by-election held on Saturday in the Remo Federal Constituency of Ogun State, citing widespread irregularities and manipulation allegedly orchestrated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
State Chairman of the party, Hon. Olujobi Fayoyin, speaking to journalists in Abeokuta on Sunday, described the exercise as a “failed democratic process,” accusing the APC of subverting the will of the people through underage voting, intimidation, and other forms of electoral malpractice.
Fayoyin also indicted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that the electoral body connived with the APC to manipulate the results in several polling units. “It is very unfortunate that APC has turned every election in this state into an opportunity to rig and impose their candidates. The last local government election was an eyesore, but yesterday’s by-election was worse. Despite the low turnout caused by intimidation of voters, the results were still manipulated in their favour,” he said.
He further noted that the by-election was marred by violence and result tampering, insisting that NRM would not accept the outcome. Fayoyin therefore called on well-meaning Nigerians to rise in defence of democracy and resist what he described as “the continuous assault on free and fair elections by the ruling party and its collaborators in Ogun State.”