The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has explained how the party reached an agreement with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and candidate of the party in the Osun State governorship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
Oshiomhole who disclosed this on Friday in Abuja added that the relationship established with the SDP is for the wellbeing of the people of Osun State.
“We were able to strike a deal that has to do with the specific issues that will affect the welfare and the well-being of the people of Osun State.
“Whereas Saraki failed to secure a deal with the SDP, we secured a deal with the SDP and now the APC, working with the SDP had a huge influence in those areas which election was cancelled and combining our efforts, it was not strange that at the end, we won and PDP lost,” he said.
He said further that perhaps, the PDP forgot that Omisore had served as a deputy governor to Chief Bisi Akande, the pioneer interim national chairman of the APC.
Oshiomhole said the working relationship between Omisore’s SDP and the APC in support of APC’s Gboyega Oyetola, therefore proved decisive and that he didn’t give money to anybody during the negotiation.
“I said we had a negotiation and had a deal that has to do with the governance of Osun State. I didn’t go with money and I don’t have money to give to anybody. He didn’t ask and there was no basis for him to ask.
“We agreed that he would have an opportunity for him to contest for a seat on the APC platform. Not just for Senate or House of Representatives, but also for House of Assembly. That is why I said we spoke about the immediate, which is the Osun election and going forward.”
He, however, took a swipe at the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who he said have failed to accept defeat.
“For democracy to flourish, only people who can accept the pain of defeat should participate in an election because there must be a winner and there must be a loser.
“But for PDP to take the position that election is only free and fair if they win and it is not free and fair if they lost.
“When they won election last month in Cross River State, we didn’t hear any voice. They also won another election in Taraba, we didn’t hear any voice, they were happy with the outcome, INEC was perfect.
“But whenever they lose an election, then INEC is colluding.”
