The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly asserted that its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, won the Edo State governorship election, citing polling unit results obtained by its agents across the state.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, September 22, 2024, the PDP, backed by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, who serves as the Chairman of the Edo PDP National Campaign Council, insisted that Ighodalo held a clear lead before what it called a “hijacking” of the collation process by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the statement, the PDP accused the APC of manipulating the results in collusion with some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies.
The party alleged that these forces engaged in “blatant alteration and substitution of the genuine results with fabricated figures in favor of the defeated APC candidate,” Monday Okpebholo.
The PDP emphasized that the APC’s “desperate” attacks on Governor Fintiri, following his claims that Ighodalo had won the election, were indicative of a cover-up for the alleged manipulations.
“The rush, venom, and hauling of insults with which the All Progressives Congress (APC) attacked Governor Fintiri only confirms APC’s violent desperation to cover its manipulations and steal the mandate freely given to Dr. Asue Ighodalo by the people of Edo State as reflected in the genuine votes cast at the Polling Units,” the statement read.
The PDP also issued a stern warning to INEC, urging the electoral body not to announce any result that does not reflect the will of the people. They referenced the protests and near-violence that followed attempts to alter the 2023 Adamawa governorship election results, cautioning that any similar actions in Edo could provoke a severe crisis.
“Our Party again cautions INEC not to lose sight of the violent protest that trailed the criminal attempt by the former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Hudu Ari, to alter the outcome of the 2023 Governorship election in that State, which nearly led to the death of some INEC officials. Any attempt to change the results of the Edo State governorship election and allocate victory to a defeated candidate will provoke worse consequences,” the PDP warned.
The PDP called on INEC to act in the interest of peace and democracy, insisting that only the true reflection of the votes cast at polling units should be announced.
The statement was signed by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba.