The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the outcome of the just concluded governorship election in Edo State, demanding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) review and announce results only as obtained from the genuine votes cast at the polling units.
PDP Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, announced the party’s decision at a press conference on Monday in Abuja.
He alleged that the election was rigged by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in connivance with government-controlled agencies.
“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.
He said, “Nigerians and the world watched in horror as the APC-compromised security operatives and thugs unleashed terror, harassed, arrested, and detained PDP members and supporters, foisted siege mentality on the people, paved the way for APC agents, procured INEC officials to manipulate the ballot process, substituted 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,” the PDP Acting Chairman said.
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 the 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.
“The PDP charges the people of Edo State to remain resolute and undeterred as our party takes sure and firm steps to retrieve the mandate with every means legal and available in a democracy,” he said.
