The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate at the just concluded Ekiti Governorship Election, Dare Abejide, has rejected the results of the election, describing the exercise as a “bad day for democracy”.
Abejide made this known while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
NPO Reported that ADC candidate lost the Saturday poll to the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji.
Bejide emerged third at the poll with 12,872 votes as against the runner-up Oluwole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 40,543, and eventual winner, Oyebanji, who recorded 319,244 votes.
Reflecting on the conduct of the election and its outcome, Abejide described the Saturday poll as a bad day for democracy as he alleged massive vote buying across the state.
He also alleged compromise by security agents.
“First, the election was a very bad one. Yesterday was a very bad day for democracy in the state.
“It was a day when democracy took flight from Ekiti State,” the two-time Secretary to the Government of Ekiti State said on the current affairs show.
“It was a day when the polling units, particularly my polling booth, became a political marketplace where votes were canvassed for, sold, and bought by politicians.
“It was a day the security agents abandoned their duties and took sides with the oppressor. It was a day when hungry people went and took money from the oppressors in exchange for their rights.” Abejide said.
The ADC candidate further disclosed witnessing vote buying scheme at his polling unit as he accused the APC administration of weaponising poverty.
“Generally, it was a very bad day. At my polling booth, where I voted, there was massive rigging and the massive sale of votes, and it happened everywhere in the state.
“It merely shows that you don’t need to campaign anymore; all you need to do is keep your money for election day and buy votes.
“The government of the day has weaponised poverty, and that makes it so easy for them to buy votes. So, let’s get it clear.” He said.
Abejide further described the election as a battleground with the opposition allegedly intimidated.
Recall that the ADC candidate had during the poll cried out over harassment of his security aide and driver who was visibly injured during a clash at his polling unit.
“It was like a battleground,
“I suspect it was something that was simply fed into the computers.” He said.
Abejide however held that the ADC is still collecting results from all the polling units which will be analysed before the next line of action is taken.
“One of them is to consult with my party members. We are still collecting results from all the polling units. We will analyse the results and take appropriate action,” the 66-year-old said.