Tension In Ekiti As PDP Candidate Disowns Result Following Closed-Door Talks

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the recently concluded Ekiti State governorship election, Wole Oluyede, has rejected the outcome of the poll, insisting that it did not reflect the true will of the electorate.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Oluyede’s rejection came just hours after he reportedly held a closed-door meeting with Governor Biodun Oyebanji at his country home in Ikere-Ekiti.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier declared Oyebanji, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of Saturday’s off-cycle governorship election.

The Chief Returning Officer and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, announced that Oyebanji secured 319,224 votes.

Oluyede came second with 40,543 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Dare Bejide, polled 12,872 votes.

PDP Alleges Electoral Irregularities

In a statement issued on Monday, the Director of Media and Communications for the Oluyede Campaign Organisation, Sanya Atofarati, alleged that the election process was marred by irregularities.

He cited claims of vote-buying, voter intimidation, harassment of opposition supporters and other actions that, according to him, compromised the integrity of the exercise.

“These incidents, taken together, cast serious doubt on the credibility of the process and the authenticity of the results subsequently declared,” Atofarati said.

He maintained that, in the party’s view, the declared outcome did not reflect the genuine democratic aspirations of the people of Ekiti State.

Atofarati also raised concerns over the conduct of some security personnel, alleging that their actions fell short of neutrality and undermined public confidence in the electoral process.

“More concerning is the conduct of some security operatives who, instead of ensuring a level playing field, allegedly acted in ways that compromised the integrity of the process,” he stated.

He further suggested that the events surrounding the election indicated that the outcome may have been predetermined.

The campaign organisation urged its supporters to remain calm while consultations continue on the next steps to take.

“We assure our supporters and the good people of Ekiti State that we remain committed to pursuing justice through all lawful and democratic means available,” the statement added.