Two candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kwara State who lost the last Saturday National Assembly election, have rejected the results of the exercise declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
They are Senator Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim, who contested for the senatorial seat for Kwara South and Abdulwahab Issa, who contested for Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, both on the platform of the PDP in the state.
Ibrahim rejected the outcome of the election with claims of gross election
The electoral umpire had declared Senator Lola Ashiru winner of the election on Sunday.
In a statement released on Monday by the Director of Media and Communications of Senator Rafiu Ibrahim’s Campaign Team, Dr. Babatunde Salami, the Senatorial candidate promised to challenge the result in court and reclaim the stolen mandate.
The statement reads “The Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate for Kwara South, Senator Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim has rejected the outcome of the National Assembly Elections declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission.”
He explained that the rejection of the election result was due to several reported cases of gross electoral malpractice and widespread electoral fraud by agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and officials of the Electoral Commission, as against stipulated guidelines in the electoral act.
“These actions violate the fundamental principles guaranteeing free and fair elections according to the electoral act. The candidate will be seeking redress at the court to reclaim his mandate,” Salami affirmed.
On his part, Abdulwahab Issa rejected the result of the election which was won by Yinka Aluko, the former Special Adviser on Special Duties to the governor on the ground that the exercise was marred by perceived manipulation of results and over voting among others in favor of the assumed winner of the poll.
He vowed to challenge the election result at the tribunal, claiming that “the people of Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency, massively came out to vote to echo their tiredness with the current dispensation under the APC ruling government in the state.”
Abdulwahab Issa, in a statement in Ilorin on Monday, urged his teeming supporters to keep hope alive and shun violence as victory was certain.
He appreciated the efforts of the electorate across political affiliations for their support and unprecedented demonstration of democratic ethics at the polls
