Ondo poll: Ajayi rejects results, vows to take legal action

• Berates APC, INEC over poll outcome
• Foundation lauds Aiyedatiwa’s election victory

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, has rejected the results of the poll released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Ajayi, who said that the poll’s outcome would be contested at the election tribunal, lamented that before the election, a series of alarms were raised over the party’s lack of faith in the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to conduct a credible poll.

The PDP’s candidate lost the election to Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after polling 117,845 votes, while the latter secured 366,781 votes to emerge as the winner and as well cleared all the 18 local councils of the state.

According to the opposition’s candidate, in a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Ayo Fadaka, the ‘debauchery’ that occurred during the election had been unearthed, which he said, would form part of the evidence in court.

Ajayi maintained that since the ruling APC came to power in the country, elections conducted by INEC had been enmeshed in controversies. He, however, urged the judiciary to brace up and perform the sacred and onerous responsibilities to guarantee the portability of justice to people and institutions that seek it.

Meanwhile, the initiator of the Abdul Adetunji Foundation, Abdul Adetunji Mohammed, has congratulated the re-elected Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on his victory at last Saturday’s gubernatorial election in the state. Mohammed said that his mobilisation efforts at delivering AkokoNorth East yielded positive results with the overwhelming victory of Aiyedatiwa in the area.

He said: “We are indeed lucky to have Aiyedatiwa in Ondo State. His victory at the election shows how popular and accepted he is in the state. It’s a testament to the people’s acceptance of the governor’s vision and dedication.

“We, at the Abdul Adetunji Foundation, are particularly delighted with his victory. It shows the overwhelming level of his acceptance, not only in AkokoNorth East but also in the entire state.”

The business mogul urged the opposition parties in the state to accept the outcome of the election in dignity, stressing that they are critical stakeholders in the development of the state and urged them to join hands with the governor in the interest of the state.