The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has rejected the results of Saturday’s local government election in Ondo State, describing the outcome as a “show of shame.
The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) had declared the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the weekend LG election, beating eleven other parties.
Speaking on Monday at a news conference in Akure, the SDP chairman in the state, Ebenezer Akinbuli, said the results of the exercise announced by ODIEC did not reflect the will of the people.
Mr Akinbuli also alleged that the LG election was marred with widespread irregularities, harassment and intimidation of the opposition members.
He accused the ODIEC chairman of failing in its constitutional duty to conduct a free, fair, and credible election in the state.
“There was no election in the state as far as we are concerned because what happened at the weekend was a pure show of shame. That is why we are calling for the immediate cancellation of the poll.
“We are also demanding the removal or honourable resignation of the ODIEC chairman. He does not deserve to be among the honourable.
“We are going to file a petition against the ODIEC chairman, Joseph Aremo, for his involvement in this election, and we are also going to challenge the outcome of the election,” Mr Akinbuli said.
He accused the electoral body of bias and collusion with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the election.
The SDP chair alleged that the party agents stationed in the LGAs for the election reported widespread delays and harassment by armed thugs allegedly working with the APC.
“The election that we monitored in Ondo East and Odigbo LGAs, there are no single security agencies in the polling units. We’re the ones providing security for them, and it was why we recorded the low turnout of the voters in the election.
“There is no strict adherence to the rules guiding the election by ODIEC. They did not provide forms for the Electoral Officers. They just gave them sheets of paper to write the results of the election at the collation centres.
“So, it’s a pure breach of the rules that guided the LG election in the state. No adequate security was provided for the exercise, and APC agents were seen threatening opposition political party agents,” he added.
Peoples Gazette could not immediately get the comments of Mr Aremo, the ODIEC chairman, as of the time of filling this report.
A spokesperson for the commission, Bisi Lawani, promised to get back to our reporter when contacted.
