November 18, (THEWILL) – The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Sunday rejected the re-election of incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, describing the victory recorded by the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in Saturday’s governorship election as a product of compromise.
Professor Olayemi Akinwunmi the State Returning Officer, Prof who declared the results of the election on Sunday said APC’s Ayedatiwa polled 366,781 votes to defeat Agboola Ajayi of the PDP, who got 117,845 votes.
According to the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba,, “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.
Ologunagba alleged that, “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.”
The APC disagreed, calling the opposition PDP, a bad loser.
According to the National Publicity Director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, “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.:”
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