Blessing Akorowosi, Osogbo
A factional candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has called for the blacklisting and sanctioning of election riggers ahead of the state gubernatorial election.
Adeleke stated that imposition of sanctions will protect democracy and ensure a credible election in July.
Speaking while receiving a delegation from the United States embassy led by Brandon Hudspeth, Political/Economic Section Chief at his Ede residence, Adeleke said he will defeat Governor Adeboyega Oyetola with a wide margin.
Adeleke said, “The major threat to survival of democracy in Africa and Nigeria in particular are election rigging and political violence. The electoral process is under threat from merchants of violence and election riggers. They are scared of People’s voice and so they invest only in violence and manipulations. The international community must ensure there is consequence to deter these threats to democracy.
“Incumbents and candidates who sponsor and promote violence and rigging should be blacklisted, sanctioned and have their assets frozen. This is the only way to save democracy from those who are afraid of ballot box. The whole world remembers how I was violently rigged out in 2018. We cannot allow history to repeat itself.
“I am committed to violence free campaign and free and fair election. I will campaign on these major areas namely agriculture reforms for job and wealth creation, financial empowerment for businesses to grow local economy, functional educational reforms targeting skills and entrepreneurship, accessible and affordable health care programmes as well as labour intensive infrastructure policy.
“We have the confidence and mass support of Osun people. If election is held today, I am sure of landslide victory against the incumbent. But we need the diplomatic community to adopt that call for sanction against election riggers. We need deterrents and this has to be comprehensive. This has to be done to save democracy in Africa.”
Earlier in his speech, Hudspeth said the United States supports democracy and wants it to take strong root in Africa and other parts of the world, adding that democracy promotion and support is a major plank of American foreign policy.
He said the United States supports her allies in their democratic journey through training and support for electoral institutions and stakeholders.
According to him, they are in Osun state to impress it on the candidates to submit to violence free campaign and free and fair elections.
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