Ondo State governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, has announced his intention to appeal the ruling of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
The tribunal had on June 4 dismissed his petition and upheld the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The tribunal’s three-member panel unanimously ruled that the petitions filed by Ajayi and the PDP lacked merit, describing them as “speculative.”
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The judgment, which solidified Aiyedatiwa’s victory, has sparked reactions from opposition quarters, particularly Ajayi, who insists the case deserves deeper judicial scrutiny.
In a statement released in Akure on Tuesday, Ajayi expressed disappointment over the tribunal’s ruling, stating that the PDP had conducted a comprehensive review of the judgment and found its analysis of the evidence submitted to be insufficient.
He emphasized that the ruling failed to reflect the strength of the arguments and documentation provided during the hearings.
“We feel disappointed that we didn’t get justice at that level,” Ajayi remarked. “However, we remain undeterred and undiscouraged in our search to ensure that justice is not only served but also seen to be served.”
He further asserted that the PDP would move forward with an appeal to the Court of Appeal to continue their pursuit of electoral justice.
Ajayi criticized what he described as the tribunal’s failure to give due attention to the materials submitted, stressing the need for electoral integrity in Nigeria’s democratic process.
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He maintained that the fight was not just for personal or party gain, but to safeguard the credibility of elections in the country.
Reaffirming his commitment to the legal process, Ajayi warned that democracy would lose its essence if the electoral process continued to ignore legal standards. “Our democracy would be a mockery if electoral laws are not upheld. We are prepared to take every legal step to ensure the truth is upheld,” he said, vowing to press forward until the appellate court delivers its verdict.
