….vows to head to Court
By Folarunsho Alagbede
The outcome of the just concluded gubernatorial election in Ondo State has been rejected by the Social Democratic Party, (SDP) and its governorship candidate, Otunba Bamidele Akingboye.
The party alleged that the election was marred by thuggery, vote buying and other irregularities, saying the outcome was a slap on democracy.
Speaking at a press conference in Akure yesterday, the SDP Chairman in the state, Gbenga Akinbuli called for immediate cancellation of the election.
According to him, voters were intimidated and harassed by political thugs at Ward 10 Unit 19, Ondo West local government.
He alleged that the electorates were offered between N7000 and N10000 at the polling unit where he voted.
He said: “How come the SDP got zero votes in Ilaje? The thugs chased everybody out of the polling unit. People were scared of coming out to cast their votes.
“Security at the polling units could not do anything. They chased out our agents from the polling unit. We are saying the election was marred by gross malpractices, vote buying, and electoral intimidation.
“We are going to court. We are asking for the cancellation of the election. It was a show of shame. It was buyers and sellers day in Ondo.”
It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) had on Sunday declared Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), winner of the election.
Aiyedatiwa polled a total of 366781 votes to beat his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ajayi Agboola, who also got 117845 votes.
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