Okpebholo’s victory: Ondo is not Edo, Ajayi warns APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, has said the ‘shenanigans’ experienced during Saturday’s election in Edo which saw All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate Monday Okpebholo emerge winner will not be tolerated in Ondo.

Okpebholo was declared the winner of the Edo governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after securing 291,667 votes.

PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo got 247,274 votes, while Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata was third with 22,763 votes.

Reacting to the outcome of the Edo election Ajayi, slammed INEC and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) for their alleged role in the electoral process.

He warned that come November 16, Ondo State residents will not tolerate such irregularities.

“In Ondo State, we have taken due cognisance of these dastardly acts committed by agencies saddled with the responsibility to provide level playing grounds and sadly failed to live up to expectations; it is a shameful act that lowers the status and respect due to Nigeria in the community of nations,” Ajayi said.

“However, we are prepared to ensure that rules will be followed in our election, which comes up in November. We need to underscore that we will not acquiesce or take kindly to any act geared towards compromising votes in our election.

“We state emphatically for all to see and hear that Ondo is not Edo; our attitude, understanding, and patience differ. We will vote and protect our vote here. We are resolved to give everything to ensure that the electoral desires of our people will command attention and attain the desired goals.

“As they say, politics is local; in Ondo State, the people are already protesting against the hardship imposed on them by the APC government; they are protesting against hunger, lack, and want. Ondo State people are protesting against a high inflationary trend that has denied them not only the future but even the present!”

Ajayi said in Ondo State, they are already protesting against the APC and a government that has institutionalised hardship, penury, and poverty, and their protest day is November 16.

He said they are sounding a note of warning to those whose trade is the compromise of ballots that danger looms if they seek to tamper with our votes.

“Nigeria is either a democratic nation or not; for us, we won’t have a parody of an election here; votes must count here. Let the APC and its rigging headquarters in Owerri begin to realise that now,” he added.

“We warn that INEC must be responsible and the police civil in the prosecution of our election; a word, as they say, is enough for the wise.”