The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the November 16 Ondo State governorship election, Agboola Ajayi, has taken legal action to contest the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
On Monday, Ajayi confirmed that his legal team had submitted a petition to the Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal, seeking to overturn the election results.
The announcement comes 24 days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner, having secured 366,781 votes. Ajayi, his closest rival, garnered 117,845 votes.
Speaking at the PDP Secretariat in Akure, the state capital, Ajayi refrained from disclosing the specific grounds for his petition but voiced his dissatisfaction with the electoral process.
Describing the result as a “miscarriage and murder of democracy,” he criticized INEC for allegedly failing to uphold a fair electoral process.
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.”
The PDP candidate called for electoral reforms, urging the National Assembly to strengthen the Electoral Act to prevent manipulation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
He alleged that the current system is vulnerable to exploitation, compromising the integrity of elections.
Despite reservations about the judiciary’s neutrality, Ajayi expressed confidence in the tribunal’s ability to deliver justice.
“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.