The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the re-election of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, describing the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate’s victory in Saturday’s governorship election as fraudulent.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba condemned the election results, alleging widespread vote-buying, intimidation, and manipulation. He asserted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) colluded with the APC to subvert the will of the people.
“This election witnessed widespread election merchandising, monetization, and blatant vote-buying by the APC and its government apparatus to suppress the genuine aspirations of the people,” Ologunagba said. He further accused the APC of weaponizing poverty to manipulate the electoral process and described the election as “one of the worst” in Nigeria’s history.
Governor Aiyedatiwa was declared the winner by INEC after securing victory in all 18 local government areas of the state. He polled 366,781 votes to defeat Agboola Ajayi of the PDP, who garnered 117,845 votes. State Returning Officer Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi announced the results.
Despite the significant margin, Ologunagba maintained that the election fell short of the standards of a free, fair, and credible process. He called on Nigerians and the international community to address the alleged malpractice, warning that such actions could undermine the country’s democracy.
In response, APC National Publicity Director Bala Ibrahim dismissed the PDP’s allegations as baseless and indicative of desperation. Ibrahim argued that the PDP consistently blames APC and INEC for its losses while celebrating victories in other states.
“If there’s an eclipse or a natural disaster, the PDP will still blame it on the APC,” Ibrahim quipped. He added, “How can you claim an election where the governor won by over 200,000 votes was manipulated? This isn’t a margin that warrants such baseless allegations.”
Ibrahim further noted that Nigerians have lost confidence in the PDP after 16 years of alleged misrule and mismanagement. He urged the opposition to accept the outcome of the election and focus on rebuilding its credibility with the electorate.
The election outcome has sparked heated debates, with both parties reiterating their commitment to democracy while trading accusations over the process. The PDP has promised a detailed review of the election results and plans to take “appropriate actions” in defense of democracy.
