Ondo guber: INEC omitted my name on the ballot, AAC candidate cries out

A new twist on last Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo state has emerged, as Mr Samuel Omotoso, claimed that he is the authentic candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) but his name was omitted on the ballot paper.

He has therefore said the winner of the election should not rejoice yet since he has challenged the election in court.

Omotoso, describing the October 10 poll as a mere rehearsal, urged other gubernatorial candidates of other 16 political parties that participated in the election to get prepared for the real poll when his name would have been included by INEC on the ballot paper.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Akure, Ondo state capital Thursday, the AAC candidate said: “INEC omitted my name on the ballot, I have all it takes to win the governorship race, but INEC didn’t do the right thing.

“The election will definitely be conducted again for I am certain that I will win the governorship race if included.”

He alleged his name was wrongly omitted “perhaps seeing a true youth contesting for this position for the first time in the history of Ondo state politics is seen as a serious threat. Hence, the cause of the great blunder by INEC.”

Speaking on his chances in court, the AAC candidate affirmed that “justice will surely prevail and the mandate of the people will be restored and the re-election will be done faster than opposition thinks.”

The AAC candidate had dragged INEC, his party’s national chairman, Dr. Leonard Nzenwa, and the state chairman of the party, Comrade Israel Oluwatosin Ayeni and Mr. Adeleye Adekunle Peter, his running-mate who was listed as the governorship candidate of the party to court over swapping his name as the standard bearer of the party with that of his running-mate.

At the last hearing of the case of error in listing at the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, on October 5, 2020, the presiding judge, Justice A. Onabanjo adjourned the hearing to October 26, 2020 because attorneys to the respondents filed their responses to the matter before the court on the same day.

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state in a statement signed by Leye Igbabo, acting director media and publicity said the party has taken note of the unnecessary outburst of Governor Oluwrotimi Akeredolu.

PDP had alleged the governor “expressed his disappointment, displeasure and strong resentment against the people of Akure South, Akure North, Ifedore Local governments for refusing to be swayed by the ignominious level of monetized electoral process and other sundry inducements, and still went ahead to cast their votes for the PDP candidate, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede who hails from Akure community.”

The statement noted that “PDP frowns at this high level of pettiness and self servitude exhibited by the Governor who is always fond of harassing and lording his views over and above any other views.”

Saying “Our party considers this sudden outburst as harassing, self serving, unwarranted and unbecoming of a leader of his status who should have found a place in his heart to accommodate the right of all to vote for any candidate of their choice and must not be intimidated on such basis.

On whether they would proceed to court to challenge Akeredolu’s victory, Igbabor said, “Our party is still studying the election results and how the entire process was largely compromised, and would soon come out with the next line of action aimed at addressing and redressing the clear infraction.”


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