The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the last November 16, Ondo State governorship election, Agboola Ajayi, has rejected the verdict of the Election Petitions Tribunal, which upheld the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement he signed yesterday and made available to reporters in Akure, the state capital, Ajayi vowed to appeal the rulling at the Court of Appeal.

The tribunal had last Wednesday, dismissed the petitions filed by Ajayi and the opposition, challenging the outcome of the election that produced Aiyedatiwa.

A three-man panel led by Justice Benson Ogubu upheld the election of Aiyedatiwa, who was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with 366,781 votes, defeating Ajayi who polled 117,845 votes.

But the state APC criticised Ajayi, describing his reaction as ‘’reckless’’.

The tribunal had dismissed Ajayi’s petition for lacking merit and held that the candidate of the PDP ‘failed woefully’ to provide sufficient evidence to support his claims of electoral irregularities and, over-voting in the election.

Following the verdict, Ajayi said a review of the tribunal’s judgment hds shown “glaring inconsistencies” in the treatment of critical evidence and exhibits tendered during the proceedings.

He explained that while the ruling might have favoured the APC, the PDP remains firmly committed to pursuing justice through constitutional means available, undeterred by the current challenges facing Nigeria’s judiciary.

“Due cognisance and rapt attention has been accorded to the kernel on which the Justices based their findings and conclusion, which in our opinion did not accorded proper analysis to details of the evidences and exhibits submitted to Tribunal while it sat.

“Thus to say the very least, we feel disappointed that we didn’t get justice at that level, but we remain undeterred and undiscouraged in our search to ensure that justice is not only served in this matter, but also ensure that honesty begins to prevail in our election process.’’