PDP rejects Lagos governorship result after candidate concedes defeat

The agent of the Peoples Democratic Party has refused to sign the final result sheet of the Lagos State Governorship election, saying he “cannot accept the results”.

His refusal came after the PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, who polled 659,788 votes, conceded defeat.

His All Progressives Congress counterpart, Akinwumi Ambode, scored 811,994, representing 52.9 per cent of 1,534029, the total votes cast, to emerge winner.

Mr. Agbaje’s campaign had told PREMIUM TIMES that the PDP candidate telephoned his APC challenger, Mr. Ambode at 658 p.m. to concede defeat.

The PDP agent, Mr. Agoro, condemned the electoral process, saying the exercise was marred by irregularities including use of manual accreditation in Ikate, Ibeju Lekki, Badagry and Mainland Local Government Areas; over voting in Ward 2 Unit 26 of Ikorodu LGA; and compromised electoral materials.

Mr. Agoro expressed disappointment that all “the evidences” of irregularities were not captured in the Returning Officers’ report.

While the Officer denied the claim of use of manual accreditation, saying optimal functioning of the card readers during the accreditation exercise, and compromised of electoral materials, he urged Mr. Agoro to write a formal complaint letter for investigation.

Mr. Agoro demanded the invalidation of Mr. Ambode’s victory on the basis of the significance of cancelled votes.

However, the Returning Officer, Mr. Oyewole said because the total cancelled votes of 13,502 was less than the differential votes of 152,206, the complaints of the PDP agent was not enough to invalidate Mr. Ambode’s victory.

The agent of the APC, Adetokunbo Afikuyomi, in his reaction said the allegations of the PDP “do not make sense”.