Ekiti: PDP Candidate Rejects Result Hours After Closed-Door Meeting With Oyebanji

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the just-concluded Ekiti State governorship election, Wole Oluyede, has rejected the outcome of the poll, saying it did not reflect the will of the electorate.

Naija News reports that Oluyede’s rejection came hours after he reportedly held a closed-door meeting with Governor Biodun Oyebanji at his country home in Ikere-Ekiti.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of Saturday’s off-cycle governorship election.

The Chief Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, announced on Sunday that Oyebanji polled 319,224 votes.

Oluyede came second with 40,543 votes, while the African Democratic Congress candidate (ADC), Dare Bejide, scored 12,872 votes.

PDP Alleges Irregularities

In a statement on Monday, the Director, Media and Communications of the Oluyede Campaign Organisation, Sanya Atofarati, alleged that the election was compromised.

He cited alleged vote-buying, voter intimidation, harassment of opposition supporters and conduct capable of undermining the process.

“These incidents, taken together, cast serious doubts on the credibility of the exercise and the authenticity of the results subsequently declared.

“The declared outcome does not, in our considered view, reflect the true will and democratic aspirations of the people of Ekiti State,” Atofarati said.

Atofarati also accused some security operatives of compromising public confidence in the election.

He said, “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.”

He added that the events surrounding the poll suggested that the outcome had been predetermined.

The campaign organisation urged supporters to remain calm while consultations continued on the next line of action.

“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,” the statement added.