The re-run election in Offa Local Government Area in Kwara State was held in last Saturday peacefully, but its outcome is being questioned by the rival opposition APC, following the manner the final results of the election in favour of the PDP was announced by the state electoral umpire, reports Weekly Trust.

At last, the re-run election between Prince Abdul-Waheed Olanipekun of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Prince Saheed Popoola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Offa council was conducted amidst heavy security last Saturday. The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Agboola Oshodi-Glover said the Police deployed all its "resources and assets" for the rerun election in just one out of the 16 LGAs in the state.

Observers contend that the heavy security presence in Offa was discernible to forestall any breakdown of law and order as witnessed in the October 2010 council election in the area which was marred by violence necessitating its cancellation.

Weekly Trust learnt that the peaceful conduct of last Saturday's election was equally applauded by the two competing parties, which doled out accolades to security agents for an excellent job.

However, while the election was in progress, the APC candidate publicized that he would not accept any declared result anywhere outside Ilorin, the state capital. He insisted that the result of the election must be collated and announced in Offa collation centre as anything short of that would be unacceptable to him.

However, Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC), Dr. Uthman Ajidagba told newsmen that the result would be collated at each ward and signed by party agents, while the final result would be announced in Ilorin.

Weekly Trust which monitored the polls observed that by 5:30pm, election results from each of the 12 wards of the council had arrived its headquarters, but there was a mild drama, as the Local Government Collation Officer who was expected to announce the final results reportedly absconded, while party agents especially representatives of the APC were directed to proceed to KWASIEC's headquarters in Ilorin.

Weekly Trust gathered that leaders of the APC were at KWASIEC's office beyond 12 midnight, but were asked to come by 10:00 am, the next day, being Sunday.

To the APC's utmost consternation, even on the said Sunday, the result was declared at 4: 25 am, in the presence of few journalists while the announcement had already been aired on Radio Kwara to the effect that the PDP candidate had won the election with 35,937 votes as against APC's 20,161.

However, the APC and its candidate kicked, saying they do not take the announcement on Radio Kwara serious.

In addition, they demanded the release of the authentic result of the election, claiming that the APC convincingly won in 11 of the 12 wards, insisting that the PDP only defeated it marginally in Igboodun ward.

The APC candidate, told journalists on Sunday morning, that as far as he and the party were concerned, the KWASIEC had not announced any result, insisting that the original result which showed the APC won the election should be declared.

"Interestingly, by 5:30pm on Saturday, duly signed results from all the 12 wards in Offa were already in at the local government collation centre in Offa. The results showed clearly that the APC trounced the PDP in 11 of the 12 wards. The PDP won only in Igboodun Ward. In all, the APC scored 11,526 as against PDP's 4, 668," he alleged.

"The name of KWASIEC, we knew very well before we contested the election that it is synonymous to the PDP. We believe there is quite little or no difference between the PDP and KWASIEC. Still, we went ahead because we have the confidence of the ever-conscious, ever vigilant and ever militant people of Offa LGA.

A day after the briefing, the APC members in Ilorin and Offa took to the streets in protest, demanding the release of the authentic result of the election. On Monday and Tuesday, they marched round the town including the commission's office at Fate, emir's palace in Ilorin, causing traffic gridlock in major commercial areas of the state capital to call the people's attention to the alleged injustice by the KWASIEC.

The protesters carried placards bearing different inscriptions including "We want to collect our mandate"; "we demand for justice"; "all we are saying, give us our mandate"; among others as they chanted anti-government slogans during the protest.

While the protests persisted on Tuesday, Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed was swearing in the PDP candidate as the elected chairman of Offa council. Prior to the swearing, Ahmed had in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary; Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba congratulated Olanipekun on his victory at the election and advised those who have grievances with the outcome to seek legal redress.

"Rather than take laws into their hands, any legitimate grievance should be channeled through established procedure for redress," the governor said.

But the Interim APC Chairman in the state, Comrade Sola Iji told Weekly Trust that the swearing-in of the PDP candidate is "fraudulent", adding that as far as the party was concerned, the PDP did not win the election. "As far as we are concerned this result has not been announced. We want him (the commission chairman) to give us the official results of the election and we should be there when the collation will be concluded, that is why we are here," Iji stated.

But the APC protesters still stormed KWASIEC's office on Monday which was manned by stern-looking mobile policemen and Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC).

Another dimension was introduced to the controversy on Wednesday when the PDP councillorship candidate for Shawo South west ward who was declared winner by KWASIEC came out to say he did not win the election, but the APC did.

The councillor said he denounced the victory awarded to him by KWASIEC because as a true son of Offa, he stands for equity and justice, saying "I did not win that election in all the eight polling units. The APC won convincingly, we didn't win. I'm a loyal member of the PDP, but first and foremost I'm a Muslim and as a person I won't allow anyone to take what belongs to me neither will I take what belongs to another person".

In a swift reaction, however, the PDP Chairman in Offa, Engr. Goke Rabiu said Olawole who claims to be the PDP councillorship candidate for Shawo South West was dropped before the election because he wasn't part of those who secured a court judgment for a re-run. In fact, he has since joined the APC and was part of their pre-election rally".

The chairman said his name was substituted with Kamarudeen Olagunju Olalekan and the KWASIEC was notified via a letter on the development.

"Jimoh Olawole is not a member of our party. He joined the ACN two years ago and later became a member of the APC even at the last council election and he wore the tag of the APC. How can he now come and claim to be the councillorship of the PDP?

"This is certainly the handiwork of agents of destabilization and mischief as the election was conducted into Offa council on Saturday August 31, 2013 which was adjudged the most peaceful election in Offa with overwhelming votes combined together amounted to over 57, 000, of which the umpire of the election which is the KWASIEC declared the PDP as the winner of the chairmanship and that of the councillorship. I am happy to present to you today our 12 councillors who have won the election and assumed duty as the legislative body for the council," he added.

But the APC candidate has vowed that he would explore all legal means to retrieve his mandate from the PDP. "We will do everything possible, within the ambit of the law and our democratic rights to retrieve this mandate and exercise it to the benefit of the people of Offa and the glory of God. We shall not rest, we shall not sleep and we will not be tired until the people's mandate is respected and the rightful candidate is sworn in".