In his own reaction, Governor Ayodele Fayose described the recognition of Jimoh Ibrahim by INEC as dangerous to democracy.
Fayose accused the APC of turning INEC into its department and willing tool that can be deployed at will to manipulate election in advance, saying recognising someone who did not emerge through any known electoral process signaled the end of democracy in the country.
At a press conference in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Fayose said the recognition granted Ibrahim had further confirmed his fear that the APC had the intention of turning the country into a one-party state.
Fayose said: “The question to ask INEC is: having accepted the candidate presented by the Malkarfi-led PDP National Caretaker Committee for the Edo State election, relying on the judgment of the Federal High Court, Port-Harcourt, despite the Abuja Federal High Court order at that time, what has changed? Obviously, it is either INEC is playing double-standard or has descended into the arena.
“With the development in Ondo Guber election and the decision of INEC, it is clear that INEC is a department in APC-led federal government. By this development also, I am vindicated that other political parties and stakeholders are now contesting election against INEC. “Obviously, INEC at every election adopts new strategy to procure undue victory for the APC and it appears that the agenda to turn Nigeria to a one-party state is daily being ruthlessly pursued by these elements not minding if democracy and our country are destroyed”.
