The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officially rejected the results of the Edo State Governorship election, announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Monday. Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner with 291,667 votes, defeating PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, who secured 247,274 votes, and Labour Party's Olumide Akpata, who came third with 22,763 votes.
During a press conference in Abuja, PDP's acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, alleged the election was marred by irregularities and did not meet democratic standards. He called for a review of the results, citing manipulation and rigging by APC with the support of compromised security and INEC officials. He also urged Nigerians to reject the results, stating that the election was a "threat to democracy."
READ ALSO
PDP Rejects Edo Governorship Results, Alleges APC Vote Rigging in Contentious Election
Ondo PDP Rejects Edo Governorship Election Results, Calls it a ‘Rape on Democracy’
Damagum's claims were echoed by PDP’s Ighodalo, who accused APC of altering the results in collusion with electoral and security agencies. Meanwhile, Labour Party candidate Akpata condemned the vote-buying during the election, describing it as a transaction rather than a democratic process. APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, however, dismissed these allegations, emphasizing that APC's victory was the result of strategic campaigning and the support of the electorate.
Civil society organizations had mixed responses, with Yiaga Africa highlighting evidence of result manipulation, while the Centre for Democracy and Development West Africa commended INEC for its management of the election.
