The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the results of the Ogun State Governorship election declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday, accusing the electoral body of misrepresenting the results of the election. Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, made this statement during a press conference in Abuja.
According to Ologunagba, INEC’s announcement of the election results did not reflect the valid votes cast during the exercise. He claimed that INEC officials had connived with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to cancel thousands of PDP’s winning votes and declared the APC candidate, Mr Adedapo Abiodun, as the winner, in violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The PDP spokesperson alleged that PDP’s candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, was leading before the electoral officers compromised the election. He further pointed out that the margin of lead between the APC and PDP candidates was not greater than the total number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected in polling units where the election did not hold or was canceled by INEC due to disruptions.
Ologunagba called on INEC to appoint a new date for the conduct of polls in the affected polling units in accordance with Section 24 (3) (4) of the Electoral Act, 2022. He urged INEC to review the wrongful declaration and return made within seven days, as stipulated in Section 65 (1) of the same act.
He cautioned INEC against disregarding the will of the people of Ogun State and urged them to exercise their powers within the ambit of the law to avoid an imminent breakdown of law and order in the state.
It is worth noting that the PDP is not the first political party to reject the election results in Ogun State. On Saturday, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) also rejected the results, citing irregularities in the conduct of the exercise.
