INEC blasts PDP govs over Edo poll manipulation claim

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday lambasted the Peoples Democratic Party governors over allegations that it manipulated the Edo State governorship election held on September 21, 2024.

INEC had declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress as the winner with 291,667 votes, while the PDP candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, secured 247,274 votes.

Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata came third with 22,761 votes.

Rising from its two-day meeting in Jos, Plateau State on Saturday, the PDP Governors Forum maintained its stance, insisting that electoral irregularities denied its candidate victory in Edo and alleging vote-buying in Ondo.

The PDP governors alleged that INEC tampered with results to favour the APC during the Edo governorship election.

The party called on the judiciary and lawmakers to strengthen electoral laws to prevent what it termed “institutional sabotage of the will of the people.”

“The forum notes with concern the rape of democracy in Edo governorship elections. It is clear to everyone with conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when in fact majority of lawful votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo.

“Meanwhile, we are still examining the documents in Ondo elections where the APC manipulated results after openly buying votes. The forum calls on the judiciary to save Nigerian democracy and the National Assembly to look into our electoral laws to make it difficult for institutional sabotage of the will of the people,” the PDP Governors’ Forum said in its communique.

But reacting to the accusations, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, described the claims as “unfortunate and inappropriate.”

“As a law-abiding organisation, we cannot comment on a matter that is before the court. It is sub judice,” Oyekanmi stated.

He criticised the PDP governors for pursuing what he called a “media trial,” urging the party to present its evidence in court rather than raising unsubstantiated claims in public.

“Interestingly, it is the PDP that filed the petition at the tribunal to challenge the result of the Edo State governorship election that is now canvassing the same issues in the media. One would expect the party and its candidate to tender their evidence in court to prove the allegations detailed in their petition, rather than embark on media trial,” he said.

Addressing claims regarding the Ondo State election, Oyekanmi defended INEC’s performance, describing it as one of the best elections conducted by the commission.

“We do not claim it was a perfect election, but it was a good outing,” he remarked.

He urged political parties to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship, saying, “It is not healthy to accept the outcome of an election only when you win.”

Also reacting, the APC knocked the PDP governors, asking them to concentrate on their court case rather than whipping up public sentiment.

In an interview with The PUNCH, the APC National Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim said, “Why is the PDP refusing to utilise the provision of going to the constitutional court, rather than the public court? The constitution has made it very clear that if there is an election and you are not happy with the outcome of the election, you proceed to the court for interpretation of what happened.

“Whether it was an election or selection or whatever language they are using, the right place to go is the constituted court, not the court of public opinion, which is what they are doing. Are they indirectly trying to incite the public to lynch INEC or to take the law into their hands and go into civil disobedience?”

Continuing, Bala raised concerns that the PDP may be up to some mischief and foul moves with this latest allegation.

The APC spokesman further recalled the opposition party’s refusal to sign the Peace Accord before the election to buttress his point.

“You will recall that before the election, there was an invitation for peace, to which they refused. They refused to sign the peace accord. I am suspicious that the PDP is planning something that is not in the interest of the constitution of this country. I hope I am wrong.

“Why are they always following the path of emotion rather than following the path of legality? These are governors that were put in place by constituted courts, not the court of public opinion. Now, they are trying to incite the public to go against what is constitutionally provided. They should have a rethink.

“It is sad to even think that some of them are lawyers, some journalists who are supposed to be members of the fifth realm of the estate. They need to be schooled. Let them come to the APC Progressive Institute and learn the ropes of politics,” he said.