The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in last Saturday’s Ekiti state governorship election, Dr Wole Oluyede, has rejected the outcome of the exercise.
He said the declared outcome does not reflect the true will and democratic aspirations of the people of Ekiti state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji the winner of the Ekiti state governorship election.
He polled 319,224 votes to defeat his closest rival, Oluyede of the PDP, who scored 40,543 votes, while the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Oluwadare Bejide, came third with 12,872 votes.
But speaking through his campaign organisation, the PDP candidate said the election process was deeply flawed and fell far short of the standards of credibility, transparency, fairness and integrity expected in a democratic society.
Oluyede, in a statement signed by the Director, Media and Communications of the Oluyede Campaign Organisation, Chief Sanya Atofarati, rejected the results announced by INEC.
He alleged 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.
“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 choose their leaders freely. This is not only a disservice to democracy but also a dangerous precedent that must not 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. At the same time, 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.
It said Oluyede Campaign Organisation remains resolute in its commitment to the people of Ekiti State and to the ideals of democratic governance.