- The off-cycle election in the south-west state was contested by 17 candidates.
- The election, which took place on Saturday, was largely peaceful and devoid of violence in most parts of the state.
Ayodele Olorunfemi, the reinstated Labour Party candidate in Ondo’s governorship election, has claimed Peter Obi and the Nigeria Labour Congress hindered his victory.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Sunday declared Aiyedatiwa of the APC the winner, securing 366,781 votes across 18 LGAs.
Agboola Ajayi of the PDP came second with 117,845 votes — the LP candidate garnered only 1162 votes, finishing fifth from the bottom in the 17-candidate election.
In an interview with PUNCH, Olorunfemi alleged that Obi and NLC sabotaged his bid.
He admitted his last-minute campaign was poorly organized after winning his appeal.
“My campaign was ineffective, thanks to Peter Obi and the NLC,” Olorunfemi said.
“They ruined my chances of winning the Ondo election.”
“They exploited the crisis between the Labour Party and the NLC to create problems.”
He expressed shock that Olusola Ebiseni wrote a letter to the court in his name without his knowledge.
Olorunfemi acknowledged his slim chances of winning after reinstatement but vowed to “get his pound of flesh.”
Prior to the election, INEC replaced Ebiseni with Olorunfemi as the LP gubernatorial candidate in Ondo
The federal high court initially directed INEC to recognize Ebiseni, but the appellate court later struck out the judgment.
INEC restored Olorunfemi’s name as the LP candidate following the court judgment.
The commission was served with the certified true copy of the judgment, setting aside the earlier federal high court judgment,” the statement reads.
Before the polls, the LP presidential candidate endorsed Ebiseni, describing him as “someone who believes in a Nigeria rooted in fairness, equity, and justice.”