- Safiu Kehinde
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has hinted that they will challenge Monday Okpebholo’s victory at the just concluded Edo governorship election in court.
This was disclosed during a Press conference held by the party on Monday.
Addressing the newsmen, PDP’ acting National Chairman, Umar Damamgun, rejected the election results as he affirmed that the party’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo, won the election as against APC’s Monday Okpebholo who was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
While calling for Nigerians and Edo people’s solidarity in rejecting what he termed ‘assault on the democratic rights of the people’, PDP vowed to retrieve the mandate by every legal means.
“The PDP calls on all Nigerians and lovers of Democracy all over the world to stand up in solidarity with the people of Edo State in rejecting this assault on the democratic rights of the people as witnessed in the Edo State Governorship election.
“The people of Edo State clearly chose Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the next Governor of their State and only their Will as expressed at the Polling Units must be allowed to stand.
“The PDP charges the people of Edo State to remain resolute and undeterred as our Party takes sure and firm steps to retrieve the mandate with every means legal and available in a democracy.” Damagun said.
Meanwhile, he recalled how the PDP had alerted the public over alleged plots by the APC and INEC to manipulate the election results.
“You may recall that the PDP had on several occasions alerted of this sinister plot by the APC to subvert the election, the roles allegedly being played by AIG Zone 7, Benneth Igwe and Edo State Commissioner of Police
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CP Nemo Edwin-Iwo and the appointment of a known APC apologist and supporter, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, as the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).
“Several demands by our Party for the redeployment of these officials as well as the release of all arrested PDP members and supporters fell on deaf ears and tend to validate PDP’s suspicion of a top-level conspiracy to rig the Edo State governorship election.” Damagun said.
The party futher accused APC of inciting violence and harrassing voters at the poll as they stressed that Ighodalo clearly won the election.
“Nigerians and the world watched in horror as the APC-compromised security operatives and thugs unleashed terror, harass, arrest and detain PDP members and supporters, foisted siege mentality on the people and paved the way for APC agents and procured INEC officials to manipulate the ballot process, substitute genuine results from the Polling Units with fictitious figures and transferred the victory clearly won by our candidate, Asue Ighodalo to the defeated APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo.
“As Nigerians already know, despite the violence, intimidation and manipulations by the APC, results obtained from the Polling Units show that our candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo clearly won the election before the figures were altered at the State collation exercise in favour of the defeated APC candidate.” They added.