The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the re-election of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, labeling the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate’s victory in Saturday’s governorship election as a “sham.”
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba criticized the election process, alleging widespread irregularities, including vote-buying and voter intimidation. Ologunagba claimed the election was manipulated to favor the APC, warning that such practices threaten the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.
“This election witnessed rampant vote-buying, monetization, and blatant suppression of the people’s genuine aspirations,” Ologunagba said. “The November 16 governorship election fell far short of expectations for a free, fair, and credible process, marking a low point in Nigeria’s electoral history.”
Governor Aiyedatiwa was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after securing victory in all 18 local government areas of the state. He garnered 366,781 votes, defeating PDP candidate Agboola Ajayi, who received 117,845 votes.
Despite the significant margin, the PDP insisted that the results were skewed in favor of the APC. The party called on Nigerians and the international community to address what it termed “reprehensible practices” by the ruling party, while promising to review the election outcome and take necessary actions to defend democracy.
In response, APC National Publicity Director Bala Ibrahim dismissed the PDP’s allegations as baseless and a reflection of their repeated unwillingness to accept electoral losses.
“If there’s an eclipse of the sun or moon, the PDP will blame it on the APC,” Ibrahim said. “They fail to acknowledge that Nigerians have moved on from the misrule and mismanagement of the PDP’s 16 years in power.”
Ibrahim noted that the APC’s victory by over 200,000 votes leaves little room for debate about the election’s legitimacy. He questioned the PDP’s pattern of disputing elections only in states where they lose, contrasting it with their praise for INEC in states they win.
“Nigerians are now more aware of the value of their votes and democracy,” Ibrahim added. “The PDP needs to wake up and adapt to the changing political landscape instead of resorting to baseless accusations.”
The election outcome has sparked a heated exchange between the two major parties, with the PDP vowing to challenge the results and the APC standing firm in defense of the process.
