TheCable

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the declaration of Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun, as the winner of the March 18 election.

On March 19, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Abiodun, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the governorship election.

Abiodun secured 276,298 votes, while  Oladipupo Adebutu, candidate of the PDP, came second with 262,383 votes and Olubiyi Otegbeye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), came a distant third with 94,754 votes.

Speaking on Saturday during a press briefing, Debo Ologunagba, national publicity secretary of the PDP, alleged that INEC breached provisions of the electoral act 2022 by declaring Abiodun as the winner of the election.

Ologunagba claimed that INEC failed to consider the cancelled votes and the margin between the APC and PDP in relation to the number of permanent voter cards collected in areas where the election did not hold.

The PDP spokesperson said the declaration of Abiodun as the winner was a “gross violation of the law” while asking INEC to review the results announced.

“It is instructive for INEC to note that with the cancelled votes, the margin of lead between Mr Adedapo Abiodun of the APC and the PDP governorship Candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu is not in excess of the total number of permanent voters cards (PVCs) collected in polling units where election did not hold or cancelled by INEC, citing disruption of polls,” the PDP spokesperson said.

“Whereas the number of permanent voters cards (PVCs) collected in places where elections were not held or cancelled is 33,750, the margin of lead between the two candidates as announced by INEC returning officer is 13,915 thereby invalidating the declaration and return made by INEC.

“In such circumstance, Section 24 (3) (4) of the Electoral Act, 2022 expressly mandates INEC to appoint a new date for the conduct of the polls in the polling units where the election did not hold or cancelled before any return can be made.

“The hurried declaration of the APC candidate by the INEC returning officer as the winner is, therefore, a declaration made contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, regulations and guidelines stipulated by INEC for the election.

“In a situation such as this, the only option available to INEC is to exercise its powers under Section 65 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 to review the wrongful declaration and return made within seven days.

“It is therefore reckless and highly condemnable that INEC would cancel PDP’s winning votes and hurriedly declare and return the defeated candidate of the APC as the winner, in gross violation of the Law and total disregard for the will of the people as expressed at the election.

“The PDP cautions INEC to save Ogun State from an imminent breakdown of law and order by reviewing the declaration and return made.

“INEC must realize that the people of Ogun state are already agitated and are unwilling to accept a declaration that does not reflect their expressed Will at the election.”