Ondo Election: PDP’s Ajayi files petition at tribunal against Gov Aiyedatiwa

Agboola Ajayi, candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16 off-cycle governorship election in Ondo state, has filed a petition at the Election Petition Tribunal challenging the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the exercise.

Recall that Mr Aiyedatiwa, the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), won the election by scoring 366,781 votes, while Mr Ajayi polled 117,845 votes.

Shortly after the election, Mr Ajayi rejected the outcome, noting that elections conducted by INEC since the APC government assumed power in 2015 had followed a tradition of hijacking the process and delivering results that contradicted the people’s desires.

Speaking on Monday with reporters in Akure, Mr Ajayi said he and his party had reviewed the outcome of the governorship election that produced Mr Aiyedatiwa and decided to challenge the results at the tribunal.

He explained that since the declaration of the election result, the party had refrained from making public comments to allow time for a comprehensive review of the events that transpired on election day.

While asserting that the election did not reflect the will of the people, Mr Ajayi expressed confidence that the tribunal would deliver justice in the case.

“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.

“The declaration of Aiyedatiwa as the winner by INEC was met with widespread dissatisfaction, as evident in the 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,” he said.

A total of 17 political parties fielded governorship candidates for the November 16 off-cycle election.