The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a press conference held in Abuja on Monday, publicly rejected the results of the Edo State governorship election.
The election, held on September 21, 2024, saw Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating PDP’s candidate Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes, and Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata, who finished with 22,763 votes.
The PDP, however, dismissed these results, claiming the election was marred by irregularities and did not meet democratic standards. The party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, demanded that INEC review the results according to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, alleging widespread rigging and manipulation in favor of the APC.
“The PDP, therefore, unequivocally rejects the final result of the Edo State governorship election as declared by INEC as it did not meet the minimum standard for democracy having not reflected the expressed will and aspiration of the people in line with provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC Guidelines for State Governorship election,” Damagum said.
“The PDP demands that INEC, within the time stipulated by Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022, review the Edo State governorship election and announce results only as obtained from the genuine votes cast at the polling units.”
“From unfolding political events in the country, the latest being the brazen rigging of the Saturday, September 21, 2024 Edo State governorship election by the All Progressives Congress in connivance with government-controlled agencies, it is clear that our democracy is under threat.
“As you know and widely reported in all segments of the media, the 2024 Edo State governorship election was barefacedly compromised by the APC in collusion with unpatriotic security operatives and heavily procured officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, who viciously trampled on the votes of the people in defiance of the law and total disregard for the sovereign will of the people of Edo State,” Damagum added.
“You may recall that the PDP had on several occasions alerted of this sinister plot by the APC to subvert the election, the roles allegedly being played by AIG Zone 7, Benneth Igwe, and Edo State Commissioner of Police, Nemo Edwin-Iwo, and the appointment of a known APC apologist and supporter, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, as the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner.
“Several demands by our party for the redeployment of these officials, as well as the release of all arrested PDP members and supporters, fell on deaf ears and tend to validate PDP’s suspicion of a top-level conspiracy to rig the Edo State governorship election.”
