Nov. 16 Ondo guber poll: PDP to review exercise, alleges vote rigging, manipulations

Dissatisfied with the November 16 governorship poll, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) says it will conduct a thorough review of the election and its outcome, alleging widespread electoral manipulation and vote buying.

The party’s position is contained in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja on Sunday.

Persecondnews reported that the election was won by a wide margin by the All Progressives Congress candidate, Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, clearing the 18 local governments in the state.

Ologunagba assured that the party would take appropriate action in defence of the country’s democracy.

He said: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP will be having a more detailed review of the election and its outcome and take appropriate action in the defence of our democracy.”

Ologunagba strongly condemned the election, labeling it the “worst ever” conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to him, the election fell far short of expectations and requirements for a free, fair, and credible process, marred by widespread electoral manipulation, vote buying, and monetization by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said: “This election witnessed widespread election merchandising, monetization, and barefaced vote buying by the APC and its apparatus in government to suppress the genuine aspiration of the people.”

Ologunagba drew the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the widespread electoral irregularities, including election merchandising, monetization, and blatant vote buying.

“We demand that serious action be taken to stem such if Nigeria’s democracy must survive.”