Ekiti Poll: PDP Candidate, Olusola, Files Petition At Tribunal

Ekiti Poll: PDP Candidate, Olusola, Files Petition At Tribunal

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti state, Prof. Kolapo Olusola on Friday filed his petition against the results of the poll as declared by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Olusola, who is the incumbent deputy governor of the state, came second in the election won by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

The deputy governor alongside his running mate, Mr Deji Ogundakin presented the over 700 pages petition to the registrar of the governorship election petition tribunal at the premises of State High Court in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

His legal team, expected to be led by renowned legal practitioner, Yusuf Ali (SAN) was represented by Ola Olanipekun (SAN) during the presentation of the petition while PDP leaders and supporters were also on ground to witness it.

Speaking to newsmen after filing the petition, Olusola alleged that governorship election was openly manipulated by APC, using instruments of the federal government.

Olusola said he was challenging the election results not out of desperation to be governor, but for reasons of future and posterity, and largely on behalf of the people of Ekiti, who were taken aback by the outcome of the election.

According to him, “Without doubt, the will of the people was subverted by those who have chosen to take Nigeria back to the dark days of ballot stuffing, ballot boxes snatching and outright falsification of election results and I believe they deserve to get justice.

“As law abiding citizens of our country, the only path of honour to take in a situation like this is the process that we have initiated today, to seek redress against the use of security forces and other instruments of the federal government to suppress the will of our people.

“Sadly, the desperation of the APC to take over all States in the country, especially those under governors like Dr. Ayodele Fayose perceived as uncompromising has destroyed all the gains made by the PDP government regarding free, fair and credible elections.

“The mood of Ekiti people when the beneficiary of the electoral robbery was declared winner and up till today is a pointer to the resolve of the people not to accept the subversion of their will and we have answered their calls to use the judiciary to get back their mandate.

“In doing this, we have presented overwhelming discrepancies in the results declared by INEC to the tribunal to adjudicate upon and I am confident that the popular mandate of the people of Ekiti will not go unrestored.

I therefore want Ekiti people to keep hope alive, remain strong and resolute in their belief in God.

“While we go through this judicial walk to expose the electoral thievery of July 14, 2018, we urge the good people of Ekiti State, especially my teeming supporters to remain calm, peaceful and prayerful, bearing in mind that those who stole their mandate will not enjoy the benefits for long,” he said.

Olusola who also condemned the indefinite closure of the state Radio and Television stations said, “No doubt, the closure of the radio and television stations was part of the grand plan to sustain the inglorious use of naked force to rob Ekiti people of their democratic rights, but the people will triumph ultimately”.