By Oluwagbemiga Toye
The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the Ekiti State governorship election, Ambassador Dare Bejide, has rejected the outcome of Saturday’s poll, described the process as fundamentally flawed , alleged that it was skewed in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the onset.
Speaking with journalists at his residence on Sunday, Bejide said the election fell short of democratic standards, alleging widespread vote buying, intimidation of supporters of opposition and manipulation of the electoral process.
He described what transpired during the election as “electoral robbery,” insisting that the exercise did not reflect the genuine wishes and aspirations of the people of Ekiti State. According to him, the alleged irregularities witnessed on election day were a culmination of actions that had undermined the credibility of the process long before voters went to the polls.
“The entire process was skewed from the beginning to the end. What happened on Saturday was a sorry case for democracy in Nigeria. The APC perpetrated what can only be described as electoral robbery against the people of Ekiti State,” Bejide said.
The ADC candidate alleged that prominent members of the ruling party openly engaged in vote buying at several polling units, including his polling unit in Ilawe-Ekiti, where he claimed large sums of money were distributed to voters. He further alleged that efforts by his supporters to challenge the practice were met with intimidation, and harassment
The ADC flag bearer maintained that the officially declared results did not represent the true mandate of Ekiti voters, arguing that the outcome failed to reflect the prevailing mood across the state.
He lamented that the developmental needs and welfare of Ekiti people were not adequately considered, alleging that the election denied citizens the opportunity to freely determine their political future.
According to him, many residents had hoped for a change in leadership direction, but the electoral process was manipulated in a manner that frustrated their expectations. Bejide also raised concerns about the credibility of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), alleging that the technology may have been compromised to influence the final outcome of the election.
While rejecting the announced results, he said the party would consult with its leadership and legal team to determine the next line of action.
The ADC candidate urged his supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, assuring them that the party would pursue all legitimate and constitutional avenues in seeking redress.
“We will study the situation carefully and consult widely. Our commitment remains to democracy and the rule of law, and we shall take appropriate steps in accordance with the law,” he said.
Bejide reiterated that despite the outcome announced by the electoral commission, he remained convinced that the people of Ekiti deserved a more transparent, credible and fair electoral process.
Reacting to the allegations, the governor had dismissed the claims during a press conference with journalists, saying residents of the state had spoken with their votes . He pledged to consolidate on his achievements, while assuring residents of good governance
INEC Chief Returning officer and Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) Prof. Adenike Oladiji had earlier declared Governor Oyebanji with 319224 votes, PDP , Oluyede 40543, and Bejide of ADC 12872 votes.
