Supporters of Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo State, gathered at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Benin City on Wednesday, demanding the restoration of what they believe is Ighodalo’s rightful mandate.
Carrying placards with messages such as “Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the governor-elect that we know” and “Edo PDP won the election but INEC and police colluded to change it,” the protesters expressed their dissatisfaction with the recent election outcome. They accused INEC of mishandling the results, chanting solidarity songs as they called for immediate action to address what they described as electoral injustice.
On September 22, Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner of the governorship election, defeating Ighodalo and Labour Party candidate Olumide Akpata. However, the PDP rejected the result, accusing INEC of violating the Electoral Act.
The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, asserted that results from polling units indicated Ighodalo was leading before alleged tampering. He emphasized that the party stands by the polling agents’ reports and supports the claims made by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, chairman of the Edo PDP National Campaign Council.
“The PDP asserts that the rush and hostility with which the APC attacked Governor Fintiri only confirm its desperation to cover up manipulations and steal the mandate freely given to Dr. Asue Ighodalo by the people of Edo State,” the PDP stated.
The party remains firm in its belief that Ighodalo was the rightful winner of the election and continues to demand that INEC rectify the alleged irregularities.
