Mr. Agboola Ajayi, a candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, announced on Monday that he has filed a challenge with the Ondo State Election Challenge Tribunal challenging Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s victory.
This development occurred 24 days after the governorship election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pronounced Governor Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress the victor of the election, with 366,781 votes to his closest challenger, Ajayi’s 117,845.
Speaking with journalists at the PDP Secretariat in Akure, the state capital, Ajayi said that his legal team had filed the petition with the electoral tribunal in the hopes of receiving justice from the court.
He did not, however, explain the basis of his petition. The PDP candidate expressed unhappiness with the election results, describing them as a miscarriage and murder of democracy.
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.”
To that end, the PDP candidate urged the National Assembly to change the Electoral Act to provide a transparent and tamper-proof electoral process, claiming that the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System, as currently administered, is being abused for manipulation.
Ajayi, a former deputy governor of the state, expressed confidence that justice will be served before the election petition tribunal.
“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.
It was gathered that the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, had dismissed the suit filed by Ajayi challenging the November 16 governorship election in the state.
The presiding judge, Justice Toyin Adegoke, ruled that the PDP candidate who challenged the APC’s candidates’ qualifications, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and his running companion, Olaiyide Adelami, lacked locus standi to launch the lawsuit.
The judge also ruled that Ajayi and the PDP’s petition was prohibited by statute since it was filed beyond the 14-day deadline set by the Electoral Act.
Furthermore, Justice Adegoke ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the claim because it was filed as an original summons rather than a writ of summons.
