The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16 off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, on Monday, disclosed that he has filed a petition at the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal to challenge the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the poll.
Ajayi, who hinted that PDP in the state had reviewed the outcome of the election, also called on the National Assembly to immediately begin the process of amending the Electoral Act to accommodate only electronic voting in the subsequent elections in the country.
Addressing journalists at the state secretariat of the party in Akure, the state capital, the PDP candidate flanked by other leaders of the party in the state, insisted that the outcome of the election did not reflect the will of the people.
According to him, “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.
“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 (INEC).
“Despite our previous warnings and even legal action to ensure neutrality within INEC, the institution, unfortunately, failed to act impartially.”
Ajayi, who further added that “The declaration of Aiyedatiwa as the winner by INEC was met with widespread dissatisfaction, as evident in the mood that followed,” noted that the “election results, as declared, do not reflect the aspirations of the people of Ondo State.”
“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.
“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.
“We want to call on the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act to ensure a transparent and tamper-proof electoral process.
The use of BVAS, as currently implemented, has been exploited for manipulation, and we urge its re-evaluation ahead of future elections,” he added.
Ajayi, who however appreciated the party across the state and the national level, urged the people of the state to be patient and hopeful for a better state when he eventually become governor of the state.
He declared, “We are determined to restore the integrity of our democracy and ensure the people’s mandate is upheld.”
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