The Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) has declared that it followed due process in conducting the August 31 re-run election in Offa Local Government Area.

The electoral body also insisted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates won the chairmanship and the 12 councillorship seats in the council.

A source at KWASIEC's head office in Ilorin told journalists that the electoral body conducted the re-run poll in accordance with a court order.

On the controversy over who was the actual PDP's candidate for the councillorship seat of Sawo South West, the source said: "The order of the court was that only those who participated in the earlier election that was upturned by the tribunal have the right to participate in the re-run election. And this we followed to the letter."

"Although we received a letter from the PDP seeking the substitution of its former candidate for Sawo South West ward, we decided to stand by the side of the court order so that we will not run foul of the law."

Afolabi Olawole, who the PDP had disowned, happened to be the party's councillorship candidate for Sawo South West ward in the earlier election that was upturned by the tribunal.
Olawole, had during a press conference organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Offa last Wednesday rejected the electoral victory given to him by KWASIEC.
He confessed that he did not win the councillorship seat of Sawo South West ward as declared by KWSIEC.

Rather, Olawole said the candidate of the APC, Mr. Adefioye Kayode, won the election.

He noted that the rejection of the election victory was not influenced by anybody but was based on his religious belief which abhors cheating. But the PDP insisted that Olagunju Olalekan was its councillorship candidate for Sawo South West in the  re-run election .

It disowned  Olawole, who claimed  to be the party's councillorship candidate for the Sawo South West ward.

Addressing newsmen in Ilorin, the state Secretary of PDP, Prince Yemi Afolayan described Olawole as an impersonator.

Though, Afolayan confirmed that Olawole was the PDP's councillorship candidate in the election that was upturned by the tribunal and Appeal tribunal, he said he had since 2011 defected to the defunct ACN which has metamorphosed into APC.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Agboola Glover-Oshodi, at the weekend, warned politicians in the state to desist from unlawful protest that might affect the peaceful co-existence among the people of the state.

He said rather they should take legal means to address any grievances bothering their minds, as courts never fail.

The police boss gave the warning in Ilorin, while speaking with journalists shortly after a peace-talk with political parties' chieftains in the state over the aftermath of the re-run election in Offa Local Government Area.

According to him, "I have spoken to the major actors in the political circle in the state regarding the election in Offa. We have appealed to them to take legal action as the only solution to their grievances and desist from going to the streets in protest.

"Although, we commend the maturity at which they conducted themselves during their peaceful protest, going through the constitutional means will best suit their demands.
"For whatever matter they want to address, they can make use of their secretariat or any of the halls in the town. We do want to enforce peace by force. If this protest continues, other parties may take advantage of it to destabilise the peaceful co-existence in the state by carrying out reprisal on them."

While lamenting what may be the consequence of the protest, the commissioner said: "We don't want to experience what is happening in Egypt where scores of people were killed. We don't want demonstration anymore in this state.

"The court did not fail in Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and other states where there was controversy. I will implore you to also follow those footsteps. I urge Kwarans to maintain the harmonious working spirit which the state is known for."

The police boss reiterated his commitment towards ensuring a peaceful and harmonious working relationship among the people of the state, warning politicians to desist from any act that could jeopardise the efforts of the police in maintaining absolute peace and security adding that he would not want to enforce peace by force on the people.

Similarly, the state police command has also informed the people of the state of its stop and search exercise known as 'Police Operation Velvet' which would include vehicles and documents.

The command in a statement signed by its spokesperson, DSP Fabode Olufemi, said the exercise would commence from September 23 to 27 and urged all vehicle owners as well as road transport unions to cooperate with the police.