Ondo: PDP Gov Candidate, Ajayi, Rejects Result, Heads To Tribunal

By Ayodele Oni

After three days of silence on the outcome of Saturday, November 16, Governorship election in Ondo State, Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi,  has declared his intention to challenge the results at the Election Tribunal.

Ajayi, came a distant second in the election. He  scored a total of 117,835 votes while the winner, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), scored 366781 votes.

The election has been adjudged to be credible with Civil Societies Organizations (CSO) noting that the outcome complied with the wish of the people.

But in a statement on Tuesday, spokesman of PDP Governorship Campaign, Ayo Fadaka, declared: “We reject the results of the November 16th election and will take legal actions to reverse the debauchery.

“That is the option available to us and we are hopeful that man and God who is the ultimate will give us justice. It is time we began to eschew criminality from our electoral process.

“We particularly call on the Judiciary to brace up and perform the sacred and onerous responsibilities to guarantee the portability of justice to people and institutions that seek it, the nation and people will appreciate that.

“While not divulging the nature and extent of the results of our investigations for now, our only prayer is that those who possess the privileges to determine the fate of people and nation should begin to live up to expectations and fear God.

“This is in the interest of our nation, it’s wellness,  peace and tranquility,  else they be reduced to same level of criminals and bandits who continuously lay landmines that undermine the progress of our nation.

“Nigeria is currently described as a failed state, it is our prayers that it is revived, rebirthed and resounding again as a nation that will not only hold promises of a better day for its people, but actually deliver on same.

“Thus, honesty must propel institutions and government, else revolt will one day dictate unwholesome developments that will portent dire consequences.

“Since the conclusion of voting on Saturday 16th November, we have kept mute and put in process an investigation of the contents of criminality prosecuted by both APC and the INEC.

“In view of the foregoing, we have uncovered lots of actions undertaken to compromise the electoral desires of the people and sadly conclude that democracy can not thrive in an environment where unabated criminality is perpetually perpetrated in the prosecution of an election by the agency(INEC) saddled with the onerous and sacred responsibility to protect our franchise and deliver its mandate at the end of every election.

“November 16th election, like every other election conducted by INEC since APC assumed power in 2015 continues in the tradition of hijacking the process and delivering results that are diametrically in contrast with expressed electoral desires, thus resulting in promoting voters apathy and total disenchantment with the electoral process.

“Please, recall that consistently, we demanded the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Toyin Babalola on account of her closeness and association with the APC and its candidate in that election,  Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“Emerging results of our investigation continues to affirm that our fears were not misplaced as criminal actions prosecuted in that election are being unearthed.

“It is a shame that people bereft of honour and required pedigree now manage sensitive institutions saddled with sacred responsibilities.”

Governor Aiyedatiwa won in all the 23 Local Government Areas in the State. He dedicated his victory to the late Governor of the State, Rotimi Akeredolu, whose Deputy he was, and whose shoes he stepped into on his (Akeredolu’s) passing.

President Bola Tinubu has since congratulated Aiyedatiwa, and advised anybody and/or group dissatisfied with the outcome of the election to go to Court and seek redress.

Both the PDP and its Candidate has decided to toe that path.