After Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Party (APC) governorship candidate in the Edo State Governorship election held on Saturday, had been declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the People’s Democratic Party PDP has kicked against the result, alleging rigging of the exercise.
Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to floor PDP’s Asue Ighodalo who emerged second with 247,274 votes, while the Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata came third with 22, 763 votes.
The APC won 10 out of of the 18 local government areas in the state, while the won 8.
In the wake of the rigging allegation, the Chairman, Edo State Governorship Election National Campaign Council Ahmadu Fintiri and governor of Anambra State, on Sunday, stated that INEC should be held accountable for violating the Electoral Act.
In a statement on Sunday, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba explained that Fintiri had earlier presented results from the polling units showing Ighodalo in a clear lead.
“The Peoples Democratic Party stands by the results of the Edo State Governorship election as garnered by its polling agents across the state and echoed by the Chairman of the Edo PDP National Campaign Council, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, which indicate that the PDP candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, clearly won the election,” the statement said.
“The PDP asserts that the rush, venom, and hauling of insults with which the All Progressives Congress attacked Governor Fintiri only confirms APC’s violent desperation to cover its manipulations and steal the mandate freely given to Dr. Asue Ighodalo by the people of Edo State as reflected in the genuine votes cast at the Polling Units.
“As Governor Fintiri presented, the results collated from the Polling Units have Asue Ighodalo in a clear lead before the state collation exercise was hijacked by the APC, which, in connivance of some unscrupulous INEC and security officials, engaged in blatant alteration and substitution of the genuine results with fabricated figures in favour of the defeated APC candidate,” the statement added.
The PDP Governors Forum (PDPGF), led by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has said that INEC must live up to the expectations of the people as an “impartial umpire.”
The Forum also called on INEC to announce results that accurately represent the wishes of the Edo people which they expressed through their votes at the poll.
“This becomes more imperative, especially in the face of the threat to democracy by the total state capture inclination of the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress government,” the forum stated.
“As the country perches on the horns of grave economic and security challenges, it is our expectation that INEC and everyone involved in the Edo governorship elections will respect the sovereign wishes of the people of Edo State and spare the nation the unpredictable consequences of a disputed result at this time.
“The PDPGF unequivocally reiterates its commitment to democratic best practices, and the peace and stability of a united Nigeria in which the citizens are not only spared the contrived ordeal of the moment but, more importantly, provided alternative opportunities to realise their legitimate dreams.
“Finally, we stand with our Governors, H/E Fintiri, H/E Diri, H/E Agbu Kefas, and H/E Oborevwori of Adamawa, Bayelsa, Taraba, and Delta States respectively, on all the actions and positions that they have taken on our behalf, with respect to maintaining the sanctity of the elections.”
The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has however, urged the citizens to maintain calm and shun violence following the announcement of Okpebholo as the winner of the poll.
“In the last few months, the various political parties have embarked on very rigorous campaigns to sell their respective candidates for the office of governor to the people of Edo State in an exercise which came to a climax yesterday with the gubernatorial election,” the governor said.
He added: “The attractive thing about democracy is the power it bestows on the people to choose who governs them. Therefore, when this power is blatantly seized from the people, it is not just a tragedy, but a travesty of democracy.
“Regrettably, the outcome of the September 21st governorship election appears to have daunted the spirit of many Edo people who feel powerless in the face of the brute force of the institutions that are supposed to protect them. It is therefore understandable that many people feel sad and aggrieved.
“But in the midst of this despair, I am urging all my fellow Edo citizens to maintain calm and not resort to violence and destruction of property in spite of this provocation.
“Peace and justice will always win at the end and this is my prescription to all the good people of Edo State who feel vexed and violated at this time.”
The governor-elect, Senator Okpebholo, promised to exemplify the achievements of Senator Godswill Akpabio during his time as Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
He spoke shortly after INEC declared him winner.
Okpebholo thanked Edo people for standing behind him and promised not to fail them.
In a feat of joy, said: “When some people say election is about do-or-die, we say no, it is about choice and power, the people having the power to hire and fire even those that have the power to sign the death warrant. Power resides only with God.
“God has decreed Senator Okpebholo to make up for the eight years disaster of Obaseki and Asue together. We did all those campaign without violence.
“Edo will now be governed by a man enriched with native wisdom, a man familiar with the custom and tradition of Edo State, a man who has used his resources to show love to the community. He has crude credentials in terms of community service. God has put those who said there will be a bloodbath in shame.”
Senator Akpabio said the victory was a turning point in the politics of Edo State.
“The will of God for the people is nothing but happiness, joy, and prosperity. The outcome of the election is a reflection of the confidence Nigerians have continued to express in President Bola Tinubu that his administration is doing its best to turn around the fortunes of Nigeria.
“What has happened in Edo is a clear reflection of what will happen in Ondo in November.”
…Tinubu, Buhari laud poll, congratulate Okpebholo
President Bola Tinubu on Sunday congratulated Okpebholo on his victory at the election.
Tinubu’s congratulatory message was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, and made available on Sunday evening.
The president commended the party’s national leaders, Edo State leaders, and governors for working hard to achieve the victory.
“The victory testified to the people’s support for the ruling party, its progressive ideals, its economic reengineering programme and its commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians,” the statement read.
He urged Okpebholo not to gloat over his victory but to see it as a challenging call to service.
He further encouraged him to demonstrate magnanimity by reaching out to his political rivals and uniting the people of Edo State to ensure its development.
Tinubu, however, urged all those aggrieved by the election outcome to seek redress through the legal channels.
“I commend the INEC and our security agencies for working round the clock to conduct a successful, peaceful, and largely hitch-free exercise.
“INEC has once again demonstrated that it is committed to organising a free and fair election in our country,” he said.
The immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari also congratulated Okpebholo on his “prized, historic electoral victory” in a statement by Garba Shehu.
“Congratulations to the APC and the election winner, Senator Monday Okpebholo on the historic electoral victory and my warmest wishes for a new lease of life for Edo State and its people.
“I very much hope the winners and the losers would work together to strengthen democracy and maintain the trajectory of development in the state,” the statement said.
