PDP Rejects Edo Governorship Election Results, Heads to Court

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially rejected the results of the Edo State Governorship election, which were announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). During a press conference held in Abuja, PDP’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, voiced the party’s dissatisfaction with the election’s outcome, calling on Nigerians to support their stance.

The election, held on Saturday, saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, declared the winner with 291,667 votes. Okpebholo defeated the PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, who secured 247,274 votes, and the Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata, who came in third with 22,763 votes. Despite this outcome, the PDP remains firm in its belief that Ighodalo was the rightful winner of the election and that the process was marred by irregularities.

Allegations of Electoral Malpractice and Democratic Threats

In his address, Umar Damagum claimed that the election did not meet the minimum democratic standards and violated the provisions of the Electoral Act of 2022. He expressed the PDP’s concerns over what he described as blatant manipulation of the election by the APC in collaboration with INEC and security agencies. “The PDP unequivocally rejects the final result of the Edo State Governorship election as declared by INEC, as it did not reflect the expressed will and aspiration of the people,” Damagum stated.

The party’s leadership has accused INEC of colluding with government agencies to influence the election in favor of the APC. Damagum highlighted specific concerns, including the alleged involvement of compromised INEC officials and security personnel in rigging the election. He emphasized that these actions posed a threat to Nigeria’s democracy, warning that the subversion of the people’s will could set a dangerous precedent for future elections in the country.

Calls for Electoral Review and Court Challenge

The PDP is demanding that INEC review the results of the Edo election within the time stipulated by Section 65 of the Electoral Act, 2022. They insist that only genuine votes from polling units should be considered in the final tally. According to Damagum, the party has gathered evidence of manipulation, intimidation, and violence that took place during the election and will present this evidence in court.

Damagum also urged the people of Edo to remain resilient and committed to their democratic rights as the party prepares to challenge the results in court. “We will not rest until justice is served. The PDP will pursue all legal avenues to ensure that the true will of the people is respected,” he asserted. He added that the judiciary would play a crucial role in determining whether the democratic process had been compromised and whether justice would be delivered.

Accusations of APC Collusion with Security Agencies

One of the major points raised by the PDP was the alleged role of security operatives in manipulating the electoral process in favor of the APC. Damagum specifically accused top-ranking security officials, including AIG Zone 7 Benneth Igwe and Edo State Commissioner of Police CP Nemo Edwin-Iwo, of aiding the APC’s efforts to rig the election. The PDP had reportedly raised concerns about these officials prior to the election but claimed that their calls for their redeployment were ignored.

Damagum went further to allege that thugs aligned with the APC unleashed violence on PDP supporters, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation during the election. He argued that such actions violated the basic principles of free and fair elections, effectively disenfranchising voters. “The people of Edo chose Asue Ighodalo as their governor, and their will must be respected,” he added.

PDP’s Confidence in the Judiciary

Despite the controversy surrounding the election, the PDP remains optimistic that the judiciary will deliver a fair verdict. Damagum emphasized that the party would carefully monitor the judiciary’s actions throughout the legal process, while also calling on Nigerians to scrutinize the courts’ handling of the case. “We shall once again test the level of preparedness of the judiciary to deliver justice where it is needed,” he remarked.

Damagum’s statement underlines the PDP’s belief that the judiciary is the final hope for upholding the principles of democracy in Nigeria. He warned that if justice is not served, it could lead to a breakdown in public trust in the electoral system and the country’s institutions. “The judiciary must rise to the occasion and restore the faith of the Nigerian people in the democratic process,” he concluded.