The Director of Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, has said that the party’s flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will win Saturday’s presidential election without any need for a run-off.
Onanuga said that the presidential election and subsequent collation of results were okay going by the field reports reaching the council.
However, he dismissed insinuations that a clear winner might not emerge, causing a run-off election.
Asked if the party was prepared for a run-off, the campaign spokesman told The Punch, “Which run-off? I don’t think this election will enter a run-off. It is straight off.
“It is clear that only one person is going to win on the first ballot and that candidate will be Asiwaju. We don’t hide it when we know an area we are going to lose.
“For instance, look at Lagos. How many votes and who is taking it away? It is Obi, not even Atiku.
“In some other places where you found out candidates are losing, look for who is occupying number two.
“So when I tell you we are winning on the first ballot, take my word for it.”
Onanuga explained that the party’s loss in its Lagos stronghold was “democracy in action”.
“The entire results in Lagos have been released and I must admit that there was an upset. But that is democracy in action.
“The demography that favours Mr Obi gave him the edge. The lapses are noted. I am sure we will do better in the subsequent elections,” Onanuga said.
He dismissed observations that the Labour Party has made in-roads into Tinubu’s Lagos stronghold, saying it was temporary and normal in any election cycle.
“In an election circle, whether this year or in another four years, there will always be changes in the demography. You can find, maybe, young people moving down to the place and old people moving out.
“You will find all kinds of things going on there and these affect voting patterns, especially where they registered. This is what is experienced all over the world.
“Even in the United States, it is not unusual see Democrats moving. If they move to a particular area en masse, they will influence the results of polling. That is what we are experiencing in Nigeria,” Onanuga said.
He admitted that were reports of violence in some areas, stating that there was an incident in Eti Osa where some Labour Party supporters ‘arrested’ INEC officials.
However, Onanuga failed to address videos of APC chieftain, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo and others threatening those would not vote for the party.