Agboola Ajayi, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate in the most recent Ondo State gubernatorial election, has been asked to apologize by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State after he recently claimed that APC members knew the tribunal’s decision in advance, which is why they were celebrating in the streets of Akure.
According to reports, the tribunal confirmed on June 4 that Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the APC candidate, had won the race.
The three-member tribunal, which was presided over by Justice Benson Ogbu, unanimously dismissed the petitions submitted by Ajayi and other petitioners, citing ineptitude, lack of merit, and diligence as justifications.
The petitions were likewise described as frivolous by the panel.
APC members and sympathizers celebrated the tribunal’s favorable decision in the state capital of Akure. However, PDP candidate Ajayi claimed that their celebrations implied they knew about the result beforehand.
He has therefore promised to appeal the state election petition tribunal’s decision.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, PDP candidate Ajayi said the party is still considering the ruling but expressed doubt about it.
Agboola stated, “The core upon which the honorable justices based their conclusions and findings has received due cognisance and rapt attention, which in our opinion did not properly analyze the details of the evidence and exhibits submitted to the tribunal while it sat.”
To put it mildly, we are sorry that justice was not served at that level, but we are not deterred in our efforts to make sure that justice is not only served in this case but that honesty starts to win out in our political process.
Therefore, by appealing the tribunal’s decision to the Court of Appeal, we reiterate our determination to undermine our rights and aspirations to strengthen our dedication to the legal system.
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“We do this in spite of the evident difficulties that Nigeria’s judiciary is currently facing.”
Justice would rule the state and the country, he said, urging party members and allies not to get weary.
A Lack of Regard for the Democratic Process
However, the Ondo APC quickly responded to Ajayi’s claims by demanding a complete apology to the judiciary and the many people who cast ballots.
The party called the claim that party members knew about the ruling beforehand “an unfortunate comment that constitutes an unwarranted attack on the integrity of Nigeria’s judicial system,” according to a statement released by Steve Otaloro, the Director of Media and Publicity.
However, the APC said that Ajayi’s implication not only undermined the judiciary’s diligence and commitment, but also disregarded the democratic process that the voters used to choose the governor.
“We demand that the PDP offer an unconditional apology to the Nigerian judiciary and the thousands of voters who cast ballots in the election, which saw Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa win an unprecedented and resounding victory.
It is clear that the PDP is disappointed since they were unable to obtain a favorable ruling, which they had thought would enable them to hijack the APC’s mandate from the voters.
The PDP only commends the judiciary when it serves their interests, as evidenced by its claims of judicial challenges, which are only a response to their electoral defeat.
The ruling party declared, “They would have surely applauded the very system they now seek to demonize if the verdict had gone in their favor.”
