The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially rejected the outcome of the governorship election in Edo State.
On Sunday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that Monday Okpebholo, the candidate from the All Progressives Congress (APC), had won the election held on September 21.
Okpebholo, a current senator, secured victory with 291,667 votes, defeating his nearest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, who garnered 247,274 votes.
At a press briefing on Monday, Umar Damagum, the acting national chair of the PDP, called on INEC to review the results.
“With a heavy heart and deep concern for our democracy and the political stability of our nation, I stand before you today,” Damagum stated. “Recent political developments, particularly the blatant rigging of the Edo state governorship election on Saturday, September 21, 2024, orchestrated by the APC in collusion with government-controlled agencies, pose a serious threat to our democracy.”
“It has been widely reported that the 2024 Edo state governorship election was shamelessly compromised by the APC in collaboration with unpatriotic security operatives and corrupt officials within INEC, who egregiously suppressed the votes of the people, flouting the law and disregarding the Sovereign Will of the citizens of Edo State.”
Damagum pointed out that several requests from the PDP for the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police and the INEC resident electoral officer were ignored, reinforcing the party’s suspicions of a high-level conspiracy to manipulate the election results.
“Despite the violence, intimidation, and manipulation perpetrated by the APC, evidence from polling units indicates that our candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, truly won the election before the figures were tampered with during the State collation process in favor of the defeated APC candidate,” Damagum asserted.
“Thus, the PDP unequivocally rejects the final result of the Edo State governorship election as declared by INEC. This result fails to meet the minimum standards for democracy, as it does not reflect the will and aspirations of the people, as stipulated by the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC Guidelines for State Governorship elections.”
The PDP demands that INEC, as prescribed by Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022, review the Edo State governorship election and announce results based solely on the legitimate votes cast at the polling units.
“We urge all Nigerians and defenders of democracy worldwide to stand in solidarity with the people of Edo State in rejecting this assault on their democratic rights, as evidenced in the recent election.”
“The citizens of Edo State have chosen Dr. Asue Ighodalo as their next Governor, and it is this collective will, expressed at the polling units, that must prevail.”
Damagum encouraged party members to remain steadfast and resolute, affirming that the PDP will take all necessary legal actions to reclaim its mandate in a democratic manner.
