The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the results of the Edo State governorship election announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The declaration was made at a media briefing in Abuja on Monday by Acting National Chairman Amb. Umar Damagum.
He insisted that the people of Edo State voted overwhelmingly for the PDP’s candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
“We will not accept anything less than Dr. Asue Ighodalo being declared the governor-elect,” Damagum stated. “The people of Edo State have spoken, and their voices must be respected.”
Damagum charged INEC to retrace its steps, citing the Electoral Act’s provisions for correcting anomalies. He claimed the PDP had previously raised concerns about the All Progressives Congress (APC) colluding with INEC and police officials to manipulate the election process.
“The PDP had raised the alarm of plans by the APC, working in cohorts with the compromised INEC and the AIG of Police in charge of the zone, to manipulate the process long before they executed their plot,” Damagum alleged.
According to the announcement by INEC, Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC led with 291,667 votes, followed by Dr. Asue Ighodalo of the PDP with 247,274 votes, and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party with 22,763 votes.