The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called the Saturday, 16 November governorship election in Ondo State a sham and rejected the incumbent and All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s win. PDP’s national publicity secretary Debo Ologunagba, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
However, the APC refuted the position saying it has become the norm for the PDP to cry foul targeting its party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) every time it experiences an election defeat.
INEC declared Gov. Aiyedatiwa the election winner after polling 18 local government areas in the state.
Declaring the result, the State Returning Officer, Prof Olayemi Akinwumi, said APC’s Ayedatiwa polled 366,781 votes to defeat Agboola Ajayi of the PDP, who got 117,845 votes.
However, Ologunagba kicked, alleging that the result was skewed by the electoral umpire in favour of the governor.
According to him, the poll was marred by vote-buying and intimidation from certain quarters, an act he said is capable of disrupting the country’s democracy if it goes unchecked.
He said, “The PDP and indeed all lovers of democracy in Nigeria and across the world have just witnessed the worst election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The November 16 governorship election runs short of all expectations and requirements of a free, fair and credible election as it witnessed the height of electoral swindle, deceit and manipulation by the APC.
“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. This devious practice by the APC was rampant and pervasive because the APC have utterly impoverished Nigerians and turned poverty into a weapon of mass subjugation which enabled it to manipulate the election and its outcome.
“We call the attention of all Nigerians and the International Community to this reprehensible practice by the APC as widely witnessed in Ondo State and we demand that a serious action be taken to stem such if Nigeria’s democracy must survive. In the meantime, the National Working Committee of the PDP will be having a more detailed review of the election outcome and take appropriate action in the defence of our Democracy.”
In reaction, the national publicity director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, faulted the PDP’s claim.
Ibrahim said the ruling party wasn’t surprised that the allegation was coming from the PDP that Nigerians have allegedly vowed not to have anything to do with again.
He said, “If there is an eclipse of the sun or moon in Nigeria, the PDP will blame it on the APC. Even if there is drought, flood or any natural disaster, they will hold the APC responsible. They are failing to understand that times have changed. Nigerians are now conscious of their votes and value of democracy.
“They have now realised that they made a grave mistake by entrusting the PDP to rule the country for 16 years, which resulted in misrule, mismanagement and total disruption of values of the country.
“So, if there is going to be any election, no matter where and time, the PDP will emerge closer because Nigerians have lost confidence in them. Why is that it is only in state they lose that they always lose confidence in INEC?
“But in states they win, they will come out with ovation and applause for the commission. How can you say an election the governor won by over 200,000 votes was skewed in APC favour? If it is an election of 10 to 50 votes, yes, we could have call for a conversation. Not one with over 200,000. The PDP better wake up and smell the coffee.”
