...Says result doesn’t reflect will of people

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the just concluded Governorship election in Ekiti, Mr Wole Oluyede on Monday rejected the outcome of the poll because it didn’t reflect the will of the electorate.

 

This is coming over 24 hours after Governor Biodun Oyebanji reportedly held a closed door meeting with Oluyede in his country home, Ikere Ekiti.

 

Recall that the INEC Chief Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure(FUTA) Professor Adenike Oladiji while declaring the results around 3am on Sunday said Oyebanji polled 319,224 votes to defeat the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) Dr Wole Oluyede who came a distant second with 40,543 votes.

 

The candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Dare Bejide scored 12,872 votes, to finish third in the election contested by 13 political parties

 

However, the Oluyede Campaign Organization in a statement by its Director, Media and Communications, Mr Sanya Atofarati in a statement Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in respect of the election was thoroughly compromised.

 

Atofarati said that throughout the election, PDP agents, supporters and numerous voters reported widespread irregularities, including vote buying, voter intimidation, harassment of opposition supporters, and other practices that undermined the sanctity of the electoral process.

 

“These incidents, taken together, cast serious doubts on the credibility of the exercise and the authenticity of the results subsequently declared.

 

“The declared outcome does not, in our considered view, reflect the true will and democratic aspirations of the people of Ekiti State. The election process was deeply flawed and fell far short of the standards of credibility, transparency, fairness and integrity expected in a democratic society.

 

“More concerning is the conduct of some security operatives who, rather than maintaining neutrality and ensuring a level playing field, allegedly acted in ways that compromised public confidence in the electoral process. We believe that the actions and inactions of certain security authorities contributed significantly to the atmosphere of fear, intimidation and unfairness witnessed during the election.

 

“The events surrounding this election suggest a process whose outcome appeared predetermined, thereby depriving the people of Ekiti State of their fundamental right to freely choose their leaders. This is not only a disservice to democracy but also a dangerous precedent that must not be allowed to stand.

 

“We wish to assure our supporters and the good people of Ekiti State that we remain committed to the pursuit of justice through all lawful and democratic means available to us. We urge our members, supporters and indeed all lovers of democracy to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding while we continue to consult widely and take appropriate steps to defend the mandate freely given to our candidate.

 

“Democracy thrives when the votes of the people count and when institutions entrusted with safeguarding the electoral process discharge their responsibilities impartially and courageously. We therefore call on all relevant stakeholders, including electoral and security institutions, to uphold the principles of justice, fairness and accountability in the interest of our democracy, ” the statement added.