Akure — Governorship candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State, Prince Soji Ehinlanwo yesterday denied claims that his petition against the declaration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko as winner of that election is a ploy aimed at benefitting the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

Ehinlanwo who was reacting to comments by the national publicity secretary of the CPC, Mr. Rotimi Fasakin said he is determined to stand on the side of the people by ensuring that the irregularities which characterized the last governorship election is reversed at the election tribunal.

He said Fasakin has not taken his time to keep abreast of new provisions of the Electoral Act to know why he is challenging the election.

He said, "It was Fasakin that brought up the idea of congratulating Mimiko shortly after the election, and I told him clearly that there was no basis to persuade him against stampeding CPC into taking its position.

"I also told him that I was still examining available information from across the state, just like our collaborative partner, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was then doing and so did not understand his hasty disposition to go to press. In addition, I advised that it was politically illogical for our NEC member to support Mimiko because of his closeness with President Goodluck Jonathan against General Muhammadu Buhari during the 2011 presidential election.

"It is therefore irreconcilable to us that the national publicity secretary will attempt to deceive the party to support Governor Mimiko despite his avowed opposition to his party leader General Buhari, ever in spite of the double standards and inconsistency this portends."