By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA—The leadership of the Social Democratic Party in Ogun State, Monday, said, it’s governorship candidate in the April 11 election, Senator Akin Odunsi, has sent a congratulatory message to the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who emerged winner in the election.

The party, however, said it was still studying the results of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections, saying, it would come up with its decision after the completion of its scrutiny.

Governor Amosun got re-elected for a second term in office on the platform of the All Progressives Congress having polled 306,988 votes  to defeat his rivals from the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, who got 201,440 votes and SDP candidate who scored 25,826 votes.

The state chairman of the party, Chief Olu Agemo, while briefing newsmen in Abeokuta about the outcome of the election and activities of the party, thanked the national leader of the party, Chief Olusegun Osoba and his wife for their support during the campaign tours and the elections.

Agemo, who was flanked by the governorship candidate of the party, Senator Akin Odunsi, his running mate and deputy governor of the state, Prince Segun Adesegun, and state secretary of the party, Chief Abimbola Awofeso, said it was untrue that the SDP was being sponsored by the presidency to destablise the politics of the South West.

He lamented that one of the opposition political parties in the state sent a sinister message on the social media that Odunsi had withdrawn from the race, which he said had led to the party loss.

He said, “Our candidate has, after the announcement of the result sent a congratulatory message to Governor Amosun.

“It was bad to the extent of attempting to destroy our governorship candidate through SMS, WHATSAPP and Facebook on the day of election that he had withdrawn from the race. This had damaging effect on our members and supporters right at the polling centres.

”Throughout the campaigns, and up till now, we as progressive have maintained decorum and politics of principle by not joining our opponents in mudslinging and blackmail.”

“First was the bombardment of the social media of their destructive mission that we were being sponsored by the Presidency to destabilise the politics of South West. We say unequivocally that at no time did we have anything to do materially or otherwise  with the Presidency.”

“Men of goodwill from the presidency who made contact with us got it clear from us that we were not out for financial gains in our effort to ensure equity and fair play.”

“As for whether we are going to the tribunal, for now, we are still meeting and studying the results of the elections. We are not making any noise or trouble. We are preparing for the future.”

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the party in the state, Chief Aremu Bamgboye has  called on members of the party  to remain steadfast in the party in spite of the outcome of the just- concluded general elections in the state.

Bamgboye advised them against defecting to another political party, stressing that the SDP would bounce back.

He recalled that it took the president-elect, General Muhammodu Buhari four attempts before emerging the democratically elected president of the nation.