The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) has rejected the result of the September 21 Edo State governorship election.
The PDP Ag. National Chairman, Umar Damagum, while speaking, yesterday, at a press conference, in Abuja, said the election did not meet the minimum standard for “democracy”.
The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) had declared the All Progressives Congress ( APC) governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, winner of the contest.
However, Damagum said the poll result did not reflect the wishes and aspiration of Edo people, pointing out that the results obtained from the polling units indicated that the PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo won the poll.
The PDP chairman stated that prior to the election, the opposition party had repeatedly raised an alarm over alleged plot to manipulate the election.
According to him, calls by the PDP for the redeployment of police and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), who were allegedly compromised and release of its detained members were not addressed.
Consequently, he demanded a review of the election result as declared by INEC in line with section 65 of the Electoral Act.
“Nigerians and the world watched in horror as the APC-compromised security operatives and thugs unleashed terror, harass, arrest and detain PDP members and supporters, foisted siege mentality on the people and paved the way for APC agents and procured INEC officials to manipulate the ballot process, substitute genuine results from the polling units with fictitious figures and transferred the victory clearly won by our candidate, Asue Ighodalo, to the defeated APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo.
“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 clearly won the election before the figures were altered at the State collation exercise in favour of the defeated APC candidate.
“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.
“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, ” Damagum stated.
He called “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 clearly 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,” he said.
