The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the recently concluded Ondo State governorship election, calling it the worst-ever election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement released by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP expressed deep dissatisfaction with the conduct of the election and the outcome, which saw Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) declared the winner.
“The PDP, and indeed all lovers of democracy in Nigeria and across the world, have just witnessed the worst election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” Ologunagba stated, stressing that the election fell far below the expectations of a free, fair, and credible process.
Ologunagba went on to accuse the APC and the incumbent state government of manipulating the election through what he described as “electoral fraud, deceit, and manipulation.”
He alleged that the APC had employed widespread vote-buying and election merchandising to undermine the will of the people.
“This election saw widespread election merchandising, monetization, and flagrant vote-buying by the APC and its government apparatus,” Ologunagba said. “These actions suppressed the genuine aspirations of the people of Ondo State and betrayed the essence of democracy.”
A Damning Critique of INEC and APC’s Actions
The PDP spokesperson did not hold back in his criticism of the electoral process.
He accused INEC of failing to uphold the integrity of the election, leaving the APC’s manipulative practices unchecked.
Ologunagba suggested that the actions of the APC were enabled by the widespread poverty across the country, which he claimed had been weaponized by the ruling party to manipulate voters.
“The APC has impoverished Nigerians, turning poverty into a weapon of mass subjugation,” he said. “This allowed them to manipulate the election and its outcome, further tarnishing the credibility of the electoral process.”
The PDP’s accusations of electoral fraud are not new. The party has consistently raised concerns about the fairness of elections in Nigeria, especially under the current administration.
This time, however, the party is calling on both Nigerians and the international community to take action against what it called “reprehensible practices” that marred the Ondo State election.
Calls for Action and Accountability
The PDP has demanded that urgent measures be put in place to prevent similar occurrences in future elections.
“We urge Nigerians and the international community to take notice of these practices, which were widely witnessed in the November 16 election in Ondo State,” Ologunagba stated.
The party emphasized the need for a thorough review of the election to ensure that such malpractice does not occur again, as it threatens the survival of democracy in Nigeria.
The PDP is also calling for INEC to be held accountable for what they described as its failure to uphold the standards expected of an electoral body.
In response to the election’s controversial outcome, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP announced that it would conduct a more detailed review of the election results.
“We will take appropriate action in defense of democracy,” Ologunagba added, signaling that the party would continue to challenge the results through all legal and democratic means.
A Divided State and Political Uncertainty
The governorship election in Ondo State has left the political landscape deeply divided.
While the APC celebrated Aiyedatiwa’s victory, the PDP and other opposition parties have fiercely rejected the result.
PDP’s accusations of electoral malpractice have sparked public debates and protests, with many citizens questioning the legitimacy of the election outcome.
Some analysts have also pointed to the growing mistrust in INEC’s ability to conduct free and fair elections, a sentiment that has been echoed by other political parties in the past.
The outcome of the Ondo governorship election is now under scrutiny, with the PDP vowing to take all necessary steps to ensure that justice is served.
Background on Ondo State Governorship Election
The Ondo State governorship election, held on November 16, 2024, saw Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of the APC emerging victorious, defeating his closest rival, Eyitayo Ajayi of the PDP.
The election had been closely watched due to the intense political rivalry between the two main parties, which have a long-standing presence in the state.
While the APC celebrated its victory, the PDP has insisted that the process was fraught with irregularities, including vote-buying and electoral manipulation, which it claims tilted the results in favor of the ruling party.
The party’s call for a review and its threats to challenge the outcome signal that the political tension in the state is far from over.
