The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Osun state chapter, has dismissed the negative posture of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the overwhelming endorsements for re-election received by Governor Ademola Adeleke recently as the last kick of a dying horse, noting that the main opposition is fighting a lost battle.

The PDP, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi on Monday, said the Osun APC must purge itself of the arrogance of recognising the will of the people in a democracy, declaring that no amount of ranting or innuendos will takeaway the fact that Osun people are solidly behind Governor Adeleke and will renew his mandate when the ballot is opened.

Hon. Bisi lashed at the Osun APC for showing no remorse at all for the hopelessness and pains that it’s misgovernance and bad financial decisions inspired while it administer the affairs of the state, pointing out that it will be a grave misreading of the situation to think it can sneak to power using falsehood and propaganda.

“It is a pity that the Osun APC has been lost to illusion that it is failing to see that Osun people are solidly behind Governor Ademola Adeleke. Osun APC’s irrational contest of the will of the people is a danger to our democracy and should concern all,” the statement reads in part.

“Contrary to the erroneous postulation of the Osun APC, Governor earned the endorsements for another term in office on the merit of the remarkable work he has done in his first two years. In infrastructure, not only has Governor Adeleke initiated new roads and bridges, but also completed some that were abandoned by the preceding APC administration.

“If the Osun APC had any honour left with it, the right thing to do was to acknowledge it, but we suspect they are so ashamed and would want to keep it away from the public. They are however mistaken, as the truth of their failure while in office was too open to be concealed and the public are well aware of how much Governor Adeleke is working to fix their mess.”

Hon. Bisi who pointed that in two years, Governor Adeleke has taken measures to provide reprieve for many families that the Osun APC maladministration has caused undue pains, said it is entirely fallacy for the Osun APC to think the people will return those who abandoned their welfare and failed miserably in upscaling infrastructure in the state back to power.

“Under the APC, promotions were given but the financial aspect of it was left unattended to. Governor Adeleke came and not only implemented the financial consequences of the promotion, but also cashbacked it. The same thing with pensioners who have received more release of their bond certificate in two years than in twelve years of the APC in Osun.

“Yet, the Osun APC is wondering why the people are endorsing Governor Adeleke for re-election. Except for delusion, the reason is clear and only those who wants the retrogression of Osun will do otherwise.”

Hon. Bisi dismissed the claim by the Osun APC that Governor Adeleke sacked 1,500 teachers in the state as an invented lie that has failed to gain life, wondering why the APC has find it hard to produce the purported sack letter of those disengaged.

“It is not surprising that the Osun APC is regurgitating the same lie it has repeatedly promoted for over two years. They have no reasonable thing to hold the Governor, hence, manufacturing lies, which has failed with the people. When Governor Adeleke assumed office, education was near comatose as public schools infrastructure were in a deplorable conditions, unhealthy for both students and teachers.

“This was because his predecessor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, made no investment whatsoever on the infrastructure of public, turning what should be a safe environment into a dangerous trap. In two years, Governor Adeleke has concentrated on putting the infrastructures in good conditions and equipping, making if safe for both teachers and students. No fewer than 100 public schools has been rehabilitated and equipped and many more will be done this year. This will be followed by deploying successful candidates in the almost concluded teaching recruitment into those schools.

“Similar investment are made in the health sector, with about 200 PHCs across the state wholly rehabilitated and equipped with 24/7 power and water. This wouldn’t have been necessary if Oyetola had not misused the $20.5 million grant received from the World Bank to upscale the infrastructures of the PHCs to the standard of the World Health Organisation (WHO). It is rather unfortunate that those who failed grossly when they had the chance are turning to blame the man fixing their mess.

“It is however comforting that Osun people are well aware of the horrible past that the APC represents in the state and will not be swayed by doomed-to-fail mission to sneak to power. In the days ahead, Osun people should expect more of the APC’s wild rhetorics and deliberate misinformation campaign in the desperation for power, but they must firmly reject them in order to guarantee the progress that Osun is witnessing under Governor Adeleke.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said they are not contemplating the destruction of over six million uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

Reacting to a newspaper report to that effect, INEC through a post on its official X handle, said the report is incorrect, advising members of the public to discountenance the story.

“Our attention has been drawn to a newspaper report that the Commission is contemplating the destruction of over six million uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) going back to the 2015 voter registration.

“The report is incorrect. At no time did the Commission contemplate the destruction of uncollected PVCs. The public is advised to discountenance the story”, INEC said.

The Chairman of the Edo State PDP, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, has labeled the attempted removal of Local Government Chairmen by the State Governor as unconstitutional and a nullity.

He affirmed that all elected Chairmen and their Vice-Chairmen remain in office and should continue their duties.

Aziegbemi also announced plans to file contempt charges against those involved in the attempted impeachments.