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On Sunday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Monday Okpebholo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the governorship election conducted on September 21.
Okpebholo, a serving senator, won the election with 291,667 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got 247,274 votes.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Umar Damagum, acting national chair of the PDP, asked the INEC to review the results.
“It is with a deep sense of burden and serious concern for our democracy and political stability of our dear nation that I address you today,” Damagum said.
“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 (APC) 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 (INEC), who viciously trampled on the votes of the people in defiance of the Law and total disregard to the Sovereign Will of the people of Edo State.”
Damagum said several demands by the PDP for the redeployment of the commissioner of police, and INEC resident electoral officer “fell on deaf ears and tend to validate PDP’s suspicion of a top-level conspiracy to rig the Edo State governorship election”.
“As Nigerians already know, despite the violence, intimidation and manipulations by the APC, results obtained from the polling units show that our candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo won the election before the figures were altered at the State collation exercise in favour of the defeated APC candidate,” Damagum said.
“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 will and aspiration of the people in line with provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC Guidelines for State Governorship election.
“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.
“The PDP calls on all Nigerians and lovers of Democracy all over the world to stand up in solidarity with the people of Edo state in rejecting this assault on the democratic rights of the people as witnessed in the Edo state governorship election.
“The people of Edo state chose Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the next Governor of their State and only their Will as expressed at the Polling Units must be allowed to stand.”
Damagum asked party members to remain resolute and undeterred as the PDP will take “steps to retrieve the mandate with every means legal and available in a democracy”.
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