The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State has rejected the outcome of the local government elections held on Saturday, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of electoral malpractice.
The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) announced on Sunday that APC won all chairmanship and councillorship seats across the state’s 18 local government areas.
However, the SDP Chairman in the state, Mr. Gbenga Akinbuli, described the election as fraudulent and called for its cancellation.
In a statement issued on Monday, Akinbuli alleged widespread ballot stuffing, the absence of critical electoral forms, and intimidation of opposition members.
He further claimed that election results in Odigbo and Ile Oluji towns were written on plain sheets instead of official forms.
The SDP also accused security agencies, particularly the police, of complicity in the alleged irregularities.
Akinbuli claimed that police officers in Ore Division supported thuggery by APC supporters and arrested SDP candidates who protested against the alleged malpractice.
He urged the Inspector General of Police to investigate the actions of the security personnel and highlighted the lack of adequate security, which he said allowed voter intimidation and manipulation.
In response, the Ondo State APC Chairman, Mr. Ade Adetimehin, dismissed the allegations, stating that the election was peaceful, free, and fair, Punch reports.
He commended ODIEC for conducting what he described as an organized and credible exercise.
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