By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has filed a petition against the conduct and declaration of the September 21 Governorship Election in Edo by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State said it filed a petition against the conduct and declaration of the September 21 governorship election in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for several reasons.
The party alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission worked together and frustrated its move to inspect the electoral materials used for the election.
The PDP stressed that it acted in accordance with the request granted by a court to get the materials inspected, so as to ascertain whether the election was devoid of irregularities or not.
The Edo State Chairman of the party, Tony Aziegbemi, stated this in a statement on Monday in Benin City.
Aziegbemi expressed optimism that the election petition Tribunal would dispense justice in the petition and described the outcome of the election as the “ ‘Darkness’ Day of Edo State”.
He said: “We know many of you and indeed Edolites would have been wondering why we have not engaged you after the saddest day in the history of Edo State.
“The stealing of your mandate and right to freely choose who will govern you in the next 4 years after the spectacular performance of our amiable Governor Godwin Obaseki.
“Let me on behalf of the PDP express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all Edolites that came out en masse on the 21st of September, 2024 to cast your votes for the PDP in spite of the unprecedented militarization and financial inducement by the APC”.
Aziegbemi added: “We are here to let you know that your vote will eventually count. You stared at the barrel of the gun, took their (our) money (in most cases fifteen thousand per vote) and voted for the PDP
“The unthinkable then happened, Your votes were discarded. You were violated, they thought that they could silence your choice. That will not happen. We are going to be with you all the way.
“We have filed our petition before the Election Tribunal on your behalf. I assure you that the journey to reclaim our mandate has begun and by the grace of God, your mandate will be returned,” he said.
Recall that the governorship election in Edo State was conducted on September 21, 2024. Senator Monday Okpebholo of APC who defeated Asue Ighodalo of PDP.
Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes against 247,274 scored by Ighodalo.
However, the PDP complained of irregularities and vowed to challenge the result in court.
The PDP also approached the court to get the materials used for the election inspected.
The court granted the request but the party has not been able to carry out the inspection.
There have been allegations and counter allegations between the two parties as to why the inspection has not taken place.
