Hundreds of women, all dressed in black, flooded the streets of Benin City, the capital of Edo State, on Tuesday, demanding that the mandate they believe was given to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie, be restored. The women, hailing from different parts of the state, came together in a peaceful yet powerful demonstration, expressing their anger over the results of the recently concluded Edo State governorship election.
With chants of “Justice for Edo!” and “Our votes must count,” the women accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of manipulating the election results in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The protestors claimed that the election had been tampered with, calling for immediate action to rectify what they see as an attack on democracy.
One of the protest leaders, speaking to journalists, made it clear that the women were there for justice, not violence. “We, the women of Edo, are not here for violence. We are here for justice. Our votes were for Asue Ighodalo and Osarodion Ogie. We will not sit by and watch our democracy be stolen from us,” she declared.
The peaceful protest blocked major roads in the city, creating significant disruption to normal daily activities. The demonstrators marched towards the INEC office, insisting that the electoral body follow a court order to release all election materials for inspection. They argued that the release of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and other election materials was essential for the truth to come out.
According to PoliticsNigeria, Mrs. Iwinosa Aikhomu, one of the women participating in the protest, said: “This is our state, our future, and we will not allow anyone to take it from us. INEC must follow the law, and APC must respect the will of the people!”
This demonstration is just the latest in a series of protests that have swept through Edo State following the controversial election held on September 21, 2024. Supporters of the PDP, including women’s groups like the one seen today, have been vocal in their demands for the election results to be reviewed. They argue that INEC’s refusal to comply with court orders casts doubt on the integrity of the process.
In addition to their demands for local justice, the protesters appealed to the international community for support. Mrs. Josephine Osagie, a marketwoman from Ekpoma, called for global attention on the issue. “The world needs to know what is happening in Edo State,” she said, warning that further suppression of the people’s will could lead to unrest.
