Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, Mr Agboola Ajayi, on Monday, said he had filed a petition at the Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal against the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
This development came 24 days after the governorship poll.
The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Governor Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress winner of the election, having polled a total of 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ajayi scored a total vote of 117,845.
Speaking with journalists at the PDP Secretariat, Akure, the state capital, Ajayi disclosed that his legal team had filed the petition at the election tribunal with the hope of getting justice from the court.
He, however, declined to mention the grounds of his petition.
Expressing his dissatisfaction with the outcome of the election, the PDP candidate described the result of the election as a miscarriage and murder of democracy.
He said, “First and foremost, we thank Almighty God for the peaceful conduct of the election in Ondo State. Since the election, our party has refrained from making public comments to allow time for a comprehensive review of the events that transpired on election day. After careful analysis, we have come to express our gratitude to the people of Ondo State for their confidence in us and the maturity they displayed during the elections despite provocations.
“We want to address certain misconceptions and allegations made against the electorate. There were accusations that our people sold their votes or were compromised. Let it be clear that the will of the people was not for sale. The sadness and disappointment witnessed after the election reflect their discontent with the outcome, which, we believe, was a miscarriage of democracy orchestrated by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“Despite our previous warnings and even legal action to ensure neutrality within INEC, the institution, unfortunately, failed to act impartially. The election results, as declared, do not reflect the aspirations of the people of Ondo State. The declaration of Governor Aiyedatiwa as the winner by INEC was met with widespread dissatisfaction, as evident in the sober mood that followed.
“Our party has taken the lawful step of filing a petition at the electoral tribunal. While we will refrain from discussing the case in detail, I assure you that we remain committed to pursuing justice. Our people are educated, resilient, and determined to see democracy upheld.”
To this end, the PDP candidate called on the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act to ensure a transparent and tamper-proof electoral process, complaining that the use of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System, as currently implemented, has been allegedly being exploited for manipulation.
Ajayi, who is a former deputy governor of the state, however, expressed confidence in getting justice at the election petition tribunal.
“Despite concerns about the judiciary’s integrity, we maintain confidence in its ability to deliver justice. We are optimistic that the tribunal will fairly adjudicate our case. The judiciary remains a critical institution in preserving democracy, and we urge it to rise to this challenge.
“Ondo State deserves leaders chosen freely and fairly by the people. We are determined to restore the integrity of our democracy and ensure the people’s mandate is upheld,” he stated.
The PUNCH reports that the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, had dismissed the suit filed by Ajayi challenging the November 16 governorship election in the state.
The presiding Judge, Justice Toyin Adegoke, held that the candidate of the PDP, who challenged the qualification of the APC’s candidates, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his running mate, Olaiyide Adelami lacked locus standi to file the suit.
The judge also held that the case filed by Ajayi and the PDP was barred by statute having filed it outside the 14 days required by the Electoral Act. Besides, Justice Adegoke held that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit, having filed it through originating summons instead of a Writ of Summons.