The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State has outrightly rejected the results of the recent governorship election held on Saturday. The party described the exercise as a “show of shame,” calling for an immediate cancellation due to alleged irregularities and misconduct.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the incumbent governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, secured victory with 366,781 votes. However, the SDP has questioned the credibility of the process, citing incidents of voter suppression, harassment, and vote buying.
Speaking at a press briefing in Akure on Monday, the SDP chairman, Gbenga Akinbuli, criticized the election, alleging that party agents were intimidated at polling units.
Akinbuli also pointed to low voter turnout despite a registered voter base of over two million. “We sent our agents out. If one agent casts a vote at every polling unit, we should record nothing less than 2,000 votes. How come the results being sent to us reflect such low scores for our party? We reject it outright.
“Our agents arrived at polling units as early as 7 a.m., but they were intimidated and forced out. Voters were not allowed to come out. How can you register over two million voters and then claim less than 600,000 voted? It’s a disgrace to the government of the day. Many voters told me they were scared for their lives and couldn’t come out.
“Our legal team is working on this. We are demanding the immediate cancellation of the election. It was not an election; it was a buyer-and-seller competition.”
The SDP governorship candidate, Mr Bamidele Akingboye, who polled 438 votes, also decried irregularities and malpractices during the election.
He said, “For the past month, I have been calling on the people of Ondo State to come out and vote. Last Saturday should have been the day Ondo freed itself from the slavery and hunger it has endured, but what I witnessed was shocking.
“In my unit in Okitipupa, Ward 2, Unit 10, they openly engaged in vote buying. I told them that, as a person of integrity, I would not participate in any unlawful acts. This election was marred with irregularities. I firmly believe the results were pre-written.
“There are videos trending online showing shocking incidents, including an elderly woman admitting she accepted money to vote. This is unacceptable.
“Our party will not condone illegality. My chairman has demanded the election’s cancellation, but I am asking to be declared the winner. People intended to vote for me, but our agents were chased out, and thuggery took over. I am the rightful winner of this election, and INEC must declare me as such.”
