The ACN claims it has evidences of malpractices that it wants to present to the court.
The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Ondo State, said it is challenging Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s re-election because of its commitment to the deepening of the nation’s democracy.
In a statement by its Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy in Ondo, the party said its petition will also assist in building an enduring electoral body that is truly independent and committed to executing its mandate with a high sense of responsibility.
Mr. Ajanaku said that the gubernatorial election in the state, contrary to the widespread information, was marred by serious irregularities and malpractices.
He expressed confidence that the tribunal would order for a fresh election based on the overwhelming evidence presented by the ACN at the tribunal.
The party spokesman said, “It is a fact that officials of the Labour Party were arrested during the elections with thumb printed ballot papers, there were violence against the opposition before and during the election which significantly altered the results.”
“We are in court just like Mimiko did in 2007 when his mandate was stolen, to make the vote of the people count.
“When we finally present our case in court the revelation that the Late Prophet Ayo Babalola and Mike Tyson voted in Ondo State in 2007 will be a child play. In this case even sprits voted in the last governorship election! It is a notorious fact that INEC officials were arrested with over 10,000 Ballot papers, the Igbeayo card and biometric registration data were all imported into the INEC registration database,” he said.
Mr. Ajanaku added that his party is also in court to expose to the whole world, the ballot stuffing done in the houses of political appointees. He expressed his party’s faith in the judiciary.
“Our commitment to justice and faith in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man is unwavering. We want to reinforce the confidence of our people in the judiciary and in our nation, that there is still hope,” he said
In a related development, the governorship candidate of the Accord Party in the election, Olawale Ojo, has also given an insight to why he is challenging the victory of Mr. Mimiko.
Ojo is asking the Tribunal to invalidate the election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] through which Governor Olusegun Mimiko was declared winner on the ground that he (Mr. Ojo) was unlawfully excluded from participating in the election by INEC.
In a 22- paragraph petition filed on behalf of his Lawyers, the petitioner prayed the court to order a fresh election wherein he will be allowed to participate.
His participation, he said, would enable his numerous supporters and party members cast their votes for him. He said that he was duly nominated by his party. and filed his nomination before INEC after a successful primary of the party witnessed by INEC officials.
He noted that despite the court action he instituted at Federal High Court to compel INEC to include his name among other governorship candidates, the electoral body refused to include his name on the contestants’ list.
He said the electoral body went ahead to conduct the election thereby excluding him from participating in the election.
Others joined as respondents in the petition are INEC, the Labour Party, and Mr. Mimiko.
