KEY POINTS

• Aiyedatiwa wins Ondo governorship, defeating Ajayi.
• PDP vows to challenge election result in court.
• SDP claims widespread electoral malpractices, demands election cancellation.

As political tension in Ondo State rises following the conclusion of the gubernatorial election, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to contest the result in court, citing allegations of electoral irregularities.

This comes as Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), prepares to receive his Certificate of Return today after being declared the winner of the closely contested election.

Aiyedatiwa declared Ondo governor, wins big

Punch noted that on Sunday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially announced Aiyedatiwa as the victor of the election, which was held on Saturday, November 16. He triumphed over Agboola Ajayi of the PDP and 15 other candidates, securing his position as the governor-elect of Ondo State. The APC candidate, who is also the incumbent governor, outperformed his rivals across all 18 local government areas of the state.

In the final tally, Aiyedatiwa garnered a total of 366,781 votes, comfortably surpassing Ajayi’s 117,845 votes. State Returning Officer Olayemi Akinwumi confirmed the result, declaring Aiyedatiwa as the duly elected governor, having met the legal requirements for victory. The governorship election was part of an off-cycle poll set to usher in a new administration, with the new governor expected to take office in February 23, 2025.

PDP alleges election fraud, vows legal action

However, the PDP has expressed strong objections to the election outcome. In a statement issued by the party’s Special Adviser, Ayo Fadaka, the opposition party accused INEC of complicity in election malpractice and electoral fraud. The PDP alleges that there were several attempts to manipulate the election process, undermining the will of the people. “We have uncovered a number of actions taken to compromise the electoral aspirations of the people,” the statement said, emphasizing the need for justice in the electoral process.

The PDP further criticized the APC-led government for allegedly perpetuating a pattern of election manipulation since it assumed power in 2015, which it claims has resulted in widespread voter apathy and distrust in the electoral system. The party has vowed to take legal action, demanding that the judiciary intervene to reverse what it describes as “debauchery” in the electoral process.

SDP rejects Ondo results, alleges electoral malpractices

Similarly, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) also rejected the election results, citing widespread electoral malpractices including vote-buying, harassment, and intimidation of party agents. The SDP claimed that the election did not reflect the will of the people and called for its cancellation. Party officials described Aiyedatiwa’s impending Certificate of Return as a “certificate of shame,” accusing the APC of securing victory through illicit means.

As the political climate in Ondo State intensifies, all eyes will be on the judiciary to resolve the dispute, with both the PDP and SDP hopeful for a fair and just hearing. With Aiyedatiwa set to receive his Certificate of Return today, the stage is set for a potential legal battle over the legitimacy of the election result.