The deputy governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Dayo Awude, whose name was substituted along with the standard-bearer of the party, Sola Ebiseni, a few hours before Saturday’s election in Ondo State, has urged contestants who participated in the poll to accept the outcome of the election in good faith.
While advising the contestants against the usual temptation of approaching the election tribunal, Awude stressed that the election was won by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) due to his financial strength.
According to him, the inability of his principal, Ebiseni, to be on the ballot and rescue the state was due to the crisis that erupted in the buildup to the poll, which he said led to an order of the court.
The names of Ebiseni and Awude were subtitled on the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following a court order that reinstated Ayo Olorunfemi as the candidate of the party.
Awude, who described the development as heart-wrenching, however, urged Ayedatiwa to use the opportunity of his victory as a tool of service to God and the people of Ondo State.
He said: “I can say with all sense of responsibility that we put our best into the exercise in terms of reaching out to the grassroots, but then the unexpected jolted the process.
“Despite the removal of our names, some of our supporters still voted for the Labour Party. To this set of people, I say thank you. To our original teaming supporters who were part of the process till the point of our names being removed, I also say thank you.
“Let me opine that all contestants should avoid the usual circus of not accepting the result of the election and heading to the Election Tribunal. Much as that is a fundamental right of any and every citizen, this election was won by Ayedatiwa, the man who had more financial capacity to show. Any court case now may be an unnecessary distraction.
“Let me say once again that the only way Ayedatiwa can justify what he has now is to use it to work for the people of Ondo State and not to delve into the arena of fighting perceived enemies and acquiring ungodly wealth.
“He should look beyond the borders of party politics and enlist the best hands to work with him. The time to work for our people is here. In spite of the Nigerian heat, Ondo State can be a Goshen.”