The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is currently reviewing the outcome of the Ondo governorship election, according to the PDP Governors’ Forum, which convened on Saturday in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) secured a decisive victory, earning a four-year mandate to lead from the Government House in Alagbaka, Akure, Ondo State.
However, the PDP governors, in a resolution adopted after their meeting, accused the APC of electoral manipulation during the polls held last weekend, which saw the PDP trailing in a distant second place.
“We are still examining the documents related to the Ondo elections, where the APC blatantly manipulated results after openly engaging in vote-buying,” said Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who chairs the forum.
The forum called on the judiciary to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy and urged the National Assembly to amend electoral laws to prevent the institutional sabotage of voters’ will.
“The forum appeals to the judiciary to protect Nigerian democracy and urges the National Assembly to strengthen our electoral laws to deter manipulations of this nature,” Mohammed added.
Concerns Over Democratic Integrity
The Ondo election follows the governorship poll in neighbouring Edo State two months ago, which the PDP governors described as a “rape of democracy.”
“The forum is deeply concerned about the subversion of democracy in the Edo governorship elections. It is evident to any conscientious observer that INEC manipulated the results to favour the APC candidate, despite the majority of lawful votes being cast for PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo,” Mohammed said.
Call for Party Unity
In addressing internal party matters, the governors urged the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting by the first week of February 2025.
This meeting, they said, would facilitate broader consultations with party stakeholders and help resolve the lingering leadership crisis within the PDP.
The forum reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening democratic processes and ensuring fairness in electoral conduct across Nigeria.