Bight Newspaper reports that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has categorically rejected the outcome of the Edo State governorship election, alleging widespread manipulation and rigging in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes, followed by PDP’s Asue Ighodalo with 247,274 votes, and Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata with 22,763 votes. However, the PDP insists that Ighodalo won the election based on results from polling units.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, Chairman of the Edo State Governorship Election National Campaign Council, presented results from polling units showing Ighodalo in a clear lead. “The results collated from the polling units have Asue Ighodalo in a clear lead before the state collation exercise was hijacked by the APC,” Fintiri stated.
PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba emphasized: “The PDP stands by the results of the Edo State Governorship election as garnered by its polling agents across the state… Dr. Asue Ighodalo clearly won the election. The rush, venom, and hauling of insults with which the APC attacked Governor Fintiri only confirms APC’s violent desperation to cover its manipulations and steal the mandate freely given to Dr. Asue Ighodalo.”
The PDP Governors Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, urged INEC to announce results reflecting the wishes of the Edo people. “This becomes more imperative, especially in the face of the threat to democracy by the total state capture inclination of the Tinubu-led APC government,” the forum stated.
Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki appealed for calm, saying: “Peace and justice will always win at the end… I implore all Edo people to go about their lawful businesses and rest assured of the commitment of our government to your wellbeing and security.”
Allegations of Manipulation
The PDP alleged that INEC colluded with the APC to alter results in three Local Government Areas: Akoko Edo, Egor, and Etsako West. Tony Aziegbemi, PDP state chairman, wrote to INEC, highlighting discrepancies between results uploaded on the INEC Result Viewing Portal and those announced.
“In Akoko Edo LGA, a simple collation of all the votes recorded in the polling unit results uploaded on the IREV shows that the APC obtained 25,010 votes while 34,847 votes were recorded in the EC8C declared by the LGA Returning Officer,” Aziegbemi stated.
Reactions
Jarrett Tenebe, APC acting chairman, dismissed PDP’s allegations, saying: “I’m okay with the outcome of the election.” Sam Uruopa, Labour Party PRO, noted: “We’re reviewing the results and will come up with a position.”
Protest and Next Steps
PDP youths staged a protest at the INEC office in Benin City, alleging result tampering. The party is considering legal action to challenge the election outcome.
A top PDP official revealed: “The party chairman has already written to the INEC chairman in Abuja, calling for a recount and re-computing of the results. We’ll explore all options, including going to court.”
The controversy surrounding the Edo governorship election has sparked concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process. As tensions rise, all eyes are on INEC and the courts to ensure justice and uphold the people’s mandate.
 has categorically rejected the outcome of the Edo State governorship election, alleging widespread manipulation and rigging in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.){kind=link}