Ajayi also claimed that since APC came to power, elections conducted by INEC have been enmeshed in controversies
By Kehinde Okeowo
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded governorship election in Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, has rejected the results of the poll, saying he will challenge the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa at the election tribunal.
TheNiche had earlier reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the off-season election.
The incumbent governor polled a total of 366781 votes to defeat his closest rival and PDP flagbearer, Ajayi, who garnered 117845 votes.
Breaking his silence after election results were declared by INEC, the PDP candidate in a statement issued on Tuesday by his special adviser, Ayo Fadaka, said that he and his party have “uncovered lots of actions undertaken to compromise the electoral desires of the people”.
According to him, the outcome of the election showed that democracy cannot “thrive in an environment where unabated criminality is perpetrated in the prosecution of an election by the agency, INEC, saddled with the responsibility to protect our franchise and deliver its mandate at the end of every election.”
He added that legal action against the results announced by the electoral umpire was the only option available to reverse his alleged stolen mandate.
“We are hopeful that man and God who is the ultimate will give us justice”, he added.
Ajayi further maintained that since the ruling APC came to power in the country, elections conducted by INEC have been enmeshed in controversies.
He, however, urged the judiciary to brace up and perform the sacred and onerous responsibilities to guarantee the portability of justice to people and institutions that seek it.