Tinubu didn’t give me money to prosecute petition, Ondo PDP candidate says

The PDP candidate denied meeting Mr. Tinubu for any money.

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in last year’s October 20 governorship election in Ondo State, Olusola Oke, has denied having any contact with a leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Bola Tinubu, over the former’s case at the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure, Ondo State.

There has been rumour circulating that Mr. Tinubu, a former Lagos State Governor, gave the PDP governorship candidate money to prosecute his appeal at the tribunal.

But Oke, while speaking with Daily Trust on Wednesday in Akure, described the allegation as an attempt to rubbish his integrity.

“I am a successful lawyer, and I don’t need to run after anybody before prosecuting my case at election petition tribunal. In my life, I only met with Tinubu when he was in National Assembly. Since then, I have not seen him.

“The truth is that ACN, PDP, PDC and Accord Party have a common goal, and the goal is to liberate people of Ondo State. Any party that believes in change of government is with me. I have no relationship with Tinubu, I’m determined to pursue my case with logical conclusion,” he said.

Besides, Oke also reacted to the congratulatory message sent to the Labour Party candidate and Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, by the PDP after the October 20 governorship election, saying the development will not affect his case at Tribunal.

“The election has come and gone but the aftermath is still with us. I do not blame anybody from congratulating Mimiko. Congratulating winner of any election is a usual practice.

“I’m sure that those who congratulated Mimiko were not in Ondo State on the Election Day,” Mr. Oke said in reference to the PDP National leadership who released a congratulatory message from Abuja.

“They didn’t vote or supervise the election. Also, they never even asked us to give them the report of the outcome of the election.

“They were not aware that over 100, 000 people voted without accreditation. Well, my petitions are before election tribunal, and I’m sure that I will get justice,” he said.