KEY POINTS
- PDP accuses APC of spending N35 billion on voter inducement.
- ADC candidate claims vote-buying cost him the election.
- APC denies allegations, urging opposition to provide evidence.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have rejected the results of Saturday’s Ondo State governorship election, calling it unfair. PDP’s candidate, Agboola Ajayi, and ADC’s candidate, Myson Nejo, described the election as full of corruption and cheating, calling it “daylight robbery.”
PDP Claims APC Bought Votes with N35 Billion
Olaniyi Ogungbuji, the PDP’s representative, accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of spending over N35 billion to buy votes. He also said some polling units in Idanre Local Government Area didn’t even conduct elections.
“This outcome is disappointing. APC spent billions to bribe voters. If this is our future, we are in trouble,” Ogungbuji said.
He added that the party and its candidate, Ajayi, would decide the next steps. “I will report to him and the party leadership so they can decide what to do next,” he explained.
ADC Candidate Condemns Vote-Buying
According to a report by Vanguard, Myson Nejo, ADC’s candidate, also criticized the election, saying vote-buying played a big role in the outcome. He admitted that refusing to pay voters likely cost him the election, but he is proud of his decision.
“Votes were sold for as much as N20,000. At my polling unit, it was between N10,000 and N15,000. I refused to bribe anyone and am satisfied with that choice,” Nejo said. Despite getting only 40 votes, he added, “I feel like a winner because I stayed honest.”
APC Dismisses Claims as Excuses
The APC denied the accusations, calling them baseless. Ade Adeogun, the APC’s representative, said the election was well-secured, making vote-buying unlikely.
“These are just excuses. If they had evidence, they should have reported it. Without proof, their claims don’t hold water,” Adeogun said.
He urged the opposition to accept their loss. “If only one party is complaining, it’s clear they can’t handle the defeat. Let them move on,” he said.
The Ondo election has raised concerns among opposition groups and civil organizations, who are now calling for changes to ensure fairer elections in the future.
