INEC returns Aregbesola- JUBILATION IN OSOGBO........

As Governor dedicates victory to Osun people

There was wild jubilation in Osogbo, the Osun State capital yesterday as the people of the town trooped out in their numbers to celebrate the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was declared winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, through the Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Bamitale Omole, announced Aregbesola as the winner of the election, having polled 394,694 votes to defeat the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 294,747 and that of the Labour Party (LP), Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, who had a total votes of 8,898.

Residents of Osogbo, many of whom observed vigil at the state secretariat of INEC to get the results of the election, danced round major streets in Osogbo and later converged on the Freedom Park, where Governor Aregbesola addressed them.

A good number of residents of the town also converged on the Government House, Oke-fia, Osogbo where they danced to the rendition of an Osogbo-based fuji musciian, Alhaji Lateef Agboola.

Also, there was jubilation on major streets in the state capital as people, especially youths danced round the streets with brooms in their hands.

The governor, while addressing his supporters, acknowledged the support he enjoyed in all parts of the state as evident in the outcome of the election, saying people of Osun State had again spoken with their votes that selfish politicians could not deceive them.

Aregbesola, who attributed his victory to the mercy of God upon him, also dedicated his victory to the people of the state, saying the “victory is yours and not mine.”

He promised to complete all the ongoing projects during his second term, and also embark on new projects, stating that the Ogbomosho-Osogbo Road would be dualised in his second term.

It was gathered that supporters of Aregbesola in other parts of the state, especially Ikirun, Ilesa, Iree, Igbajo and Esa-Oke, also moved round the state in jubilation for the victory of Governor Aregbesola.

Aregbesola, who won in 23 out of the 30 local government areas in the state, lost to the PDP in Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ife South, Isokan, Boluwaduro and Odo-Otin local government areas of the state.