Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make known the outcome of last week Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency bye-election.
The election which took place in 21 out of the 22 wards and results were collated at the unit, local government and constituency levels in accordance with the Electoral Act and the Constitution.
“INEC announcing the result would be in the interest of the 2015 election,” he said.
Sun News reports:
The governor, while fielding questions from State House correspondents shortly after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said announcing the result would be in the interest of the 2015 election.
Mimiko insisted that the Labour Party won the election, and that contrary to the INEC’s claim that the election was inconclusive, the party felt it was concluded.
According to Mimiko, “Because of the integrity of electoral processes in Nigeria, because of the reputation that INEC has built for itself, it’s not a perfect body but generally people believe that INEC has been getting its acts together and I think in the interest of that integrity and in the interest of the 2015 that we are all looking forward to and its integrity, I think INEC should just announce this result,” he said.
Mimiko explained that election took place in 21 out of the 22 wards and results were collated at the unit, local government and constituency levels in line with the Electoral Act and the Constitution. He further stated that the requirement for winning election into the State House of Assembly was majority of lawful vote cast and Labour Party had the majority.
Mimiko said his party was waiting for the declaration of the result because it won.
“We have looked at the law. We have looked at the constitution. In the case of presidential and governorship elections, the conditions are very clear.
“Apart from having simple majority of votes cast, you need a quarter of two third of the local governments. That is, apart from the quantum, you also need spread.
“But for legislative election, the law prescribes simple majority and mind you, election took place in 21 wards out of 22. Election results have been collated and we are waiting for INEC to announce the results.”
Asked if he sensed plan to shortchange the Labour Party, he replied, “I don’t want to say that. Probably, there is some mix up somewhere”.
