Four days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) have vowed to challenge the outcome in court.
INEC announced Aiyedatiwa as the winner on Sunday, following the November 16 election. Aiyedatiwa secured 366,781 votes, defeating his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the PDP, who garnered 117,845 votes. The APC candidate won in all 18 local government areas of the state, retaining his position as governor.
However, the PDP has raised serious allegations of electoral malpractice. In a statement issued by Ayo Fadaka, Special Adviser to its candidate, the party accused INEC of undermining democracy.
The statement read, “We have uncovered lots of actions undertaken to compromise the electoral desires of the people and sadly conclude that democracy cannot thrive in an environment where unabated criminality is perpetually perpetrated in the prosecution of an election by the agency (INEC) saddled with the onerous and sacred responsibility to protect our franchise and deliver its mandate at the end of every election.
“The November 16 election, like every other election conducted by INEC since APC assumed power in 2015, continues in the tradition of hijacking the process and delivering results that are diametrically in contrast with expressed electoral desires, thus resulting in promoting voters apathy and total disenchantment with the electoral process.
“While not divulging the nature and extent of the results of our investigations for now, our only prayer is that those who possess the privileges to determine the fate of people and nation should begin to live up to expectations and fear God, in the interest of our nation, it’s wellness, peace and tranquility, else they be reduced to same level of criminals and bandits who continuously lay landmines that undermine the progress of our nation.”
The party called on the judiciary to guarantee the “portability of justice to people and institutions that seek it, the nation and people will appreciate that.”
The statement added, “Nigeria is currently described as a failed state, it is our prayers that it is revived, rebirthed and resounding again as a nation that will not only hold promises of a better day for its people, but actually deliver on same. Thus, honesty must propel institutions and government; else revolt will one day dictate unwholesome developments that will portend dire consequences.
“In summary, we reject the results of the November 16 election and will take legal actions to reverse the debauchery, that is the option available to us and we are hopeful that man and God, who is the ultimate, will give us justice. It is time we begin to eschew criminality from our electoral process.”
Similarly, the SDP has dismissed the election as illegitimate. Speaking in Akure, SDP state chairman Gbenga Akinbuli claimed widespread vote-buying and voter intimidation marred the polls. Publicity Secretary Adeniyi Iwakun described the results as a “certificate of shame,” alleging that security agents overlooked electoral fraud.
He said, “By our own assessment, there was no election in the state. When people are being bought — part of the electoral act is that it is criminal for votes to be bought. Votes were openly traded in the presence of security agents who had already been compromised. As a political party, we rejected the result, we rejected the election, and we are calling for cancellation. So, it is a pariah victory — a victory that deserves no celebration.
“If he (Aiyedatiwa) is going to take a Certificate of Return, it is rather a certificate of shame. Because when the government has performed, you don’t need to induce people for you to be voted into power again. People will contribute to your election; people will contribute for your campaign.
“Sometimes, it can be applicable to the last election. There is no jubilation on the streets of the state. Everybody knows they have entered another ‘one chance.’ The government that has been on ground for over 10 months has not even had any power. We are talking about the current government. So, for us, it is a certificate of shame he is collecting, not a Certificate of Return. Or possibly, we call it a certificate of return to shame because it is a pariah victory, something that was bought. That is the position of our political party.”
Both parties have called for the cancellation of the election and urged the judiciary to uphold justice. As Aiyedatiwa prepares to receive his Certificate of Return, the controversy surrounding his victory raises questions about the integrity of the electoral process.
