The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially rejected the results of the Edo State Governorship election, which were announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
During a press conference held in Abuja on Monday, PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, called on Nigerians to support the party’s stance.
On Saturday, INEC declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election, with 291,667 votes. The PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, secured 247,274 votes, while Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata came in third with 22,763 votes. The APC won 10 out of the 18 local government areas in the state, with the PDP taking the remaining 8.
However, Damagum claimed that Ighodalo was the legitimate winner, stressing that the election did not meet democratic standards. He alleged that the process was marred by irregularities and called for a review of the results.
“The PDP 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,” Damagum stated, citing the Electoral Act of 2022. He demanded that INEC review the election results and announce only the genuine votes cast at the polling units.
Damagum announced that the PDP would challenge the results in court and urged the people of Edo to remain resilient. He accused the APC of rigging the election in collaboration with government-controlled agencies, including security operatives and INEC officials.
He also criticized the roles allegedly played by security personnel, such as AIG Zone 7 Benneth Igwe and Edo State Commissioner of Police Nemo Edwin-Iwo, as well as the appointment of Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, whom he described as an APC supporter, as the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state.
The PDP alleged that violence, intimidation, and manipulation marred the election, with APC agents and compromised INEC officials altering genuine results. Damagum claimed that despite the challenges, polling unit results indicated that Ighodalo had won before figures were changed at the state collation center.
Calling on Nigerians and the international community to stand in solidarity with the people of Edo State, Damagum emphasized that the will of the people, as expressed at the polling units, should be respected.
When asked about the party’s confidence in the judiciary, Damagum responded, “We shall once again test the level of preparedness of the judiciary to deliver justice. The most important thing is that we will subject them to scrutiny in the eyes of Nigerians.”
The PDP has vowed to challenge the results in court, as it seeks justice for what it describes as a subversion of democracy in Edo State.
