The Edo State governorship election, held on September 19, 2024, has been marred by controversy, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insisting that the poll was rigged in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo. The PDP has even described Okpebholo as "governor-select,"
According to the official results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC won the election with 291,667 votes, while Asue Ighodalo of the PDP polled 247,274 votes. Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata came third with 22,761 votes.
According to PDP;
"The forum notes with concern the rape of democracy in Edo governorship elections. It is clear to everyone with conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when in fact majority of lawful votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo.Meanwhile, we are still examining the documents in Ondo elections where the APC manipulated results after openly buying votes. The forum calls on the judiciary to save Nigerian democracy and the National Assembly to look into our electoral laws to make it difficult for institutional sabotage of the will of the people,” the PDP Governors’ Forum said in its communique.
APC's Reaction,
In reaction to what PDP said,the APC National Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim said, “Why is the PDP refusing to utilise the provision of going to the constitutional court, rather than the public court? The constitution has made it very clear that if there is an election and you are not happy with the outcome of the election, you proceed to the court for interpretation of what happened.
“Whether it was an election or selection or whatever language they are using, the right place to go is the constituted court, not the court of public opinion, which is what they are doing. Are they indirectly trying to incite the public to lynch INEC or to take the law into their hands and go into civil disobedience?”
The PDP has also alleged that the INEC was biased in favor of the APC and that the commission failed to conduct a free and fair election.
In reacting to the accusations, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, described the claims as “unfortunate and inappropriate.”
According to him;
“As a law-abiding organisation, we cannot comment on a matter that is before the court. It is sub judice,” Oyekanmi stated.
"lnterestingly, it is the PDP that filed the petition at the tribunal to challenge the result of the Edo State governorship election that is now canvassing the same issues in the media. One would expect the party and its candidate to tender their evidence in court to prove the allegations detailed in their petition, rather than embark on media trial,” he said.
In reaction to what PDP said,the APC National Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim said, “Why is the PDP refusing to utilise the provision of going to the constitutional court, rather than the public court? The constitution has made it very clear that if there is an election and you are not happy with the outcome of the election, you proceed to the court for interpretation of what happened.
“Whether it was an election or selection or whatever language they are using, the right place to go is the constituted court, not the court of public opinion, which is what they are doing. Are they indirectly trying to incite the public to lynch INEC or to take the law into their hands and go into civil disobedience?”
The outcome of the Edo State governorship election has significant implications for the political landscape of Nigeria. The victory of the APC candidate has strengthened the party's hold on the state and has given it a boost ahead of the 2027 general elections.
On the other hand, the defeat of the PDP candidate has dealt a blow to the party's chances of regaining power in the state.
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