ADC gov candidate rejects outcome of Ekiti poll, alleges vote buying

By Boye Oyeyemi

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress in Saturday’s Ekiti governorship election, Dare Bejide, has rejected the outcome of the poll, describing the exercise as flawed and lacking credibility.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, Bejide alleged that the election was conducted under a tense atmosphere, claiming that some communities witnessed incidents that undermined the integrity of the process.

The ADC candidate accused the ruling party of influencing voters through the distribution of money and food items at several polling centres across the state.

According to him, a government that had performed well should have relied on its record rather than resorting to inducements to secure electoral support.

“I reject the result completely because the election was not credible. What happened in some locations created fear among voters and raised serious concerns about the conduct of the exercise,” he said.

Bejide further alleged that political office holders, aided by security personnel and suspected thugs, interfered with the process in some areas, adding that the development dealt a blow to democratic principles.

“Large amounts of money were moved around polling units and openly used to influence voters. It is a sad development for our democracy,” he stated.

The ADC flag bearer, however, urged his supporters to remain peaceful, saying the party was reviewing reports and results from polling units before deciding on its next line of action.