The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, has officially filed a petition at the Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal, challenging the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
This legal move comes 24 days after the election results were declared.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner, with a total of 366,781 votes, defeating Ajayi, who garnered 117,845 votes.
Speaking to journalists at the PDP Secretariat in Akure, Ajayi revealed that his legal team had lodged the petition at the election tribunal, expressing hope for a fair and just resolution. However, Ajayi refrained from disclosing the specific grounds for his petition.
While expressing his disappointment with the election outcome, Ajayi condemned the results as a “miscarriage and murder of democracy.”
He commended the peaceful conduct of the election but criticized INEC’s role, alleging the election did not reflect the will of the people.
Ajayi emphasised that the PDP had refrained from making public statements following the election to allow for a thorough review, and after careful analysis, they decided to file the petition.
“The sadness and disappointment witnessed after the election reflect their discontent with the outcome, which, we believe, was a miscarriage of democracy orchestrated by INEC,” Ajayi said.
He also rejected claims that voters from his party had sold their votes or been compromised. He stressed that the will of the people had not been for sale.
Ajayi further accused INEC of failing to act impartially, despite previous warnings and legal action aimed at ensuring the Commission’s neutrality. He argued that the election results, as declared, did not align with the aspirations of Ondo State’s residents.
In addition to pursuing justice through the tribunal, Ajayi called for amendments to the Electoral Act to ensure a transparent and tamper-proof electoral process.
He expressed concerns over the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), claiming that the system had been exploited for manipulation.
Despite expressing concerns about the judiciary’s integrity, Ajayi said he remained confident in the ability of the election petition tribunal to deliver justice.
“We are optimistic that the tribunal will fairly adjudicate our case. Ondo State deserves leaders chosen freely and fairly by the people,” he added.
Ajayi’s legal challenge comes after a Federal High Court in Akure dismissed a suit he had filed regarding the November 16 election.
The court ruled that Ajayi, who had contested the qualification of Aiyedatiwa and his running mate, Olaiyide Adelami, lacked the standing to file the suit. Additionally, the court held that the suit was filed outside the 14-day window required by the Electoral Act and that it was improperly filed through originating summons rather than a writ of summons.
Ajayi’s petition at the election tribunal marks the latest in a series of efforts by the PDP candidate to contest the election results and seek redress in the legal system.