PDP alleges irregularities in Ondo guber poll, opts for a review

Following the outcome of Saturday’s off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State which saw the incumbent governor Luky Aiyedatiwa win with a landslide victory, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which came second in the election, while rejecting the outcome, said it will review in more details the election.

According to a statement by Debo Ologunagba, the party’s National Publicity Secretary in Abuja on Sunday, the party would take appropriate action in the defence of the country’s democracy.

“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP will be having a more detailed review of the election and its outcome and take appropriate action in the defence of our democracy,” he said

In the interim, Mr Ologunagba dismissed the election as the worst conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), adding that the election in Ondo State fell short of all expectations and requirements of a free, fair, and credible election.

“This election witnessed widespread election merchandising, monetisation and barefaced vote buying by the APC and its apparatus in government to suppress the genuine aspiration of the people,” he said.

“We demand that serious action be taken to stem such if Nigeria’s democracy must survive,” he said.

Back story

The Informant247 reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday afternoon, declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa winner of Saturday’s off-cycle election in Ondo State.

The Returning Officer for the election Olayemi Akinwumi, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State made the official declaration to extend the governor’s stay at the Government House in Alagbaka, Akure.

Aiyedatiwa polled 366,781 votes to defeat his arch-rival and former deputy governor of the state Ajayi Agboola, who flew the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag. He scored 117,845 votes, more than twice lower than the APC candidate.

The returning officer, while declaring the Aiyedatiwa winner at exactly 2:30 pm at the INEC collation centre in Akure, said, “That Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of the APC having satisfied the requirement of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”

Lucky Aiyedatiwa was sworn in as governor on Wednesday, December 27, 2023.

Having been declared the winner of the election, Aiyedatiwa is set to extend his stay at the helm of affairs in the oil-rich state. He – a former deputy governor – ascended to power on December 27th, 2023 after Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s death.

Akeredolu died on the same day after a lengthy battle with illness and had before his demise transmitted power to Aiyedatiwa.

He thereafter won the APC’s ticket for the 2024 governorship election in Ondo, pitting him against 17 other candidates including Agboola who was also a former deputy to Akeredolu during his first term in office.

NAN