The Labour Party, LP, candidate in Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Osun State, Fatai Akinbade, has blamed his embarrassing defeat at the polls to his opponents’ tactics of “confusing” his supporters.
Mr. Akinbade came a distant third in the election garnering a paltry 8,898 votes, behind Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, and Iyiola Omisore, of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, who emerged winner and runner up respectively.
In a statement announcing his concession of defeat, Sunday, Mr. Akinbade noted that the election was marred by financial inducement of the electorates. He also said his opponents’ tactics led to his defeat.
“By and large, the whole process was fair and I congratulate the winner, Governor Rauf Aregbesola”, Mr. Akinbade said in the statement signed by Kayode Oladeji, his Director of Media.
“In every contest, there must be a winner. However, I must let us know that my head remains unbowed because I don’t regret anything. Some lessons have been learnt and I thank my supporters for their doggedness.
“Imagine the Director General of Arebesola Campaign Organisation, Professor Sola Adeyeye and Diran Odeyemi of the PDP, claiming separately on the social media on the morning of the election that I directed my supporters to vote Aregbesola and Omisore.
“This confused my supporters across the state who bombarded me with calls. This went viral and caused confusion”, Mr. Akinbade said.