Gov. Ayodele Fayose

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has told the Ekiti State election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja to dismiss the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the election of Ayodele Fayose as governor.

The PDP called only one witness on Wednesday and closed its case, with Fayose expected to open his defence against the petition Thursday.

At the tribunal, the PDP Secretary in Ekiti State, Dr. T.K.O. Aluko, who was called to give evidence at the tribunal said the election that brought in governor Fayose was peaceful, transparent, free and fair.

His evidence was not challenged under cross-examination, although some documents were also tendered by the party lawyer, Mr. Robert Emukperuo, who led the witness in evidence.

The APC had filed the petition challenging the results of the June 21 governorship election won by PDP candidate, Fayose.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Fayose as the winner of the election ahead of the incumbent governor and the APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

The PDP candidate defeated Fayemi with 203,090 votes compared to the APC’s 120,433.
However, the APC alleged that the election was manipulated by the federal government in favour of the PDP.

The party asked the tribunal to “unravel the hidden facts surrounding the election, “saying the poll was more of a mechanical exercise than the conventional casting of votes.”

The party also challenged the qualification of Fayose for the election, stating that Fayemi had an ongoing criminal case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

It cited manipulation and undue militarisation of the election, as well as the previous impeachment of the incoming governor as grounds for the petition.

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