The Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should not hesitate further from announcing the result of last week’s Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency bye-election.
The governor made this appeal while fielding questions from State House correspondents shortly after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said announcing the result is in the interest of the 2015 election.
Mimiko was very optimistic that his Labour Party won the election, adding that contrary to the INEC’s claim that the election was inconclusive, the party felt it has been concluded and the result should be announced without further delay.
“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.”
