The Ondo State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has unequivocally rejected the outcome of the recently concluded governorship election, describing the exercise as a “show of shame” riddled with irregularities.
The election, held on Saturday, saw the incumbent governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, emerge victorious with 366,781 votes, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking at a press conference in Akure on Monday, the SDP State Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Akinbuli, denounced the election process, alleging widespread voter intimidation, harassment of SDP agents, and rampant vote buying.
He called for the immediate cancellation of the results, asserting that the exercise failed to meet democratic standards.
“Our legal team is already examining the irregularities that marred the election,” Akinbuli announced. He further questioned the reported voter turnout, stating, “We sent agents to all polling units. If each agent cast just one vote, the numbers should reflect at least 2,000 votes for our party. Yet, the results sent to us show ridiculously low figures for the SDP. We reject these results outright.”
Akinbuli alleged that SDP agents were systematically intimidated at polling units, with many being forced to leave early in the day. “Our agents arrived at their polling units as early as 7 a.m., but they were threatened and chased away. Meanwhile, voters were too afraid to come out. How can over two million voters be registered, yet less than 600,000 votes were cast? This is a disgrace to the ruling government. Many voters told me they feared for their lives and stayed home,” he said.
He criticized the prevalence of vote buying, declaring, “This was not an election; it was a marketplace where votes were traded like goods. Our party demands the immediate annulment of this sham. Democracy must not be reduced to a buyer-and-seller affair.”
The SDP governorship candidate, Mr. Bamidele Akingboye, who polled 438 votes, also condemned the conduct of the election, citing intimidation and irregularities. Akingboye claimed that political thugs targeted SDP members at multiple polling units, undermining the integrity of the process.
“Over the past month, I have tirelessly urged the people of Ondo State to participate in this election. Saturday was meant to be a day of liberation from hunger and suffering, but what I witnessed was appalling,” Akingboye lamented.
Sharing his personal experience, he stated, “In my unit at Okitipupa, Ward 2, Unit 10, vote buying was conducted openly. I refused to partake in such an unlawful act because integrity matters to me. This election was a sham from start to finish, with results that seemed pre-written. Videos circulating online reveal shocking incidents, including an elderly woman confessing that she was paid to vote. This is unacceptable.”
“Our party will not stand for illegality. While my chairman has called for the cancellation of the election, I am taking it a step further. I demand to be declared the rightful winner. The people of Ondo intended to vote for me, but our agents were harassed and removed, and the process was hijacked by thugs. INEC must right this wrong and declare me the winner.”
