ABUJA, Nigeria – The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has formally rejected the result of the Edo State governorship election held on Saturday, challenging the victory of All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate Monday Okpebholo.
In a press briefing on Monday, September 23, 2024, the PDP announced that it would contest the outcome in court, citing electoral irregularities and manipulation.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Senator Okpebholo the winner on Sunday, with 291,667 votes, surpassing PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo, who received 247,274 votes. Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata placed third with 22,763 votes.
However, PDP’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, insisted the results do not reflect the will of the Edo electorate.
“The people of Edo State voted overwhelmingly for Dr Ighodalo, and we will not rest until this injustice is corrected,” Damagum stated during the media address in Abuja.
Amb. Damagum further alleged that the election process was marred by collusion between the APC and key officials in charge of security and electoral oversight.
“We raised concerns long before the election about plans by the APC, in partnership with a compromised INEC and the AIG of Police in the region, to undermine the vote,” Damagum added, calling on INEC to review the election per the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The declaration of Okpebholo’s victory was made at the Benin City collation center by the election’s Returning Officer, Faruk Kuta, who is the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.
“That Okpebholo, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” Kuta announced during the formal announcement.
Edo State, which is politically divided into three major districts—Edo North, Edo South, and Edo Central—has long been a battleground between the APC and PDP, with the latter maintaining a strong presence in Edo Central and Edo South.
The PDP has vowed to take its case to the judiciary, hoping to overturn what it claims was an orchestrated manipulation of the electoral process.
As the legal battle unfolds, tensions in Edo’s political landscape are expected to heighten in the coming weeks.
