The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has rejected the outcome of the Ondo State governorship election, describing it as “a slap on democracy.”
The election was conducted on Saturday.
The party’s chairman, Barr. Gbenga Akinbuli called for the election’s immediate cancellation at a press briefing in Akure.
Akinbuli alleged widespread irregularities, including voter intimidation and harassment at Ward 10 Unit 19 in Ondo West Local Government. He claimed voters were offered between N7,000 and N10,000 at the polling unit where he voted. SDP agents were also chased away from many polling units across the state.
The party’s governorship candidate, Otunba Bamidele Akingboye, expressed shock at the election’s conduct. “What I saw yesterday was shocking to me,” he said. “In my unit in Okitipupa, Ward 2 Unit 10, they were doing an open auction. I told them that as a credible person, someone who has integrity, I would never partake in unlawful acts in Nigeria.”
Akingboye plans to ask the court to declare him the winner of the election, citing thuggery and electoral intimidation. “I’m considering myself as the winner of this election, and INEC should declare me the winner,” he stated.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner with 366,781 votes, defeating his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 117,845 votes. The SDP’s Akingboye garnered 388 votes.
