Chidoka accuses INEC of systemic rigging in Edo 2024 election

The fallout from the September 2024 Edo State governorship election has taken a dramatic turn as former Minister of Aviation Osita Chidoka accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of systemic rigging. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Chidoka presented detailed evidence of electoral malpractice, alleging deliberate manipulation to favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Chidoka, who now heads the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, claimed that an analysis of election results exposed glaring discrepancies. He alleged that INEC’s BVAS backend inflated the number of accredited voters by over 100,000, raising the tally from 580,000 recorded at polling units to 687,000. Furthermore, he accused INEC of deploying duplicate result sheets and falsifying figures on its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to skew the outcome.

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He also pointed to discrepancies between the certified true copies of polling unit results issued by INEC and the results uploaded to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV). These irregularities, he alleged, suggest the use of duplicate result sheets containing fabricated figures to skew the election in favor of the APC. Chidoka’s findings further highlighted that 11,665 votes were subtracted from the PDP’s tally during ward collation, while 32,284 votes were added to the APC’s total.

When asked who he believed won the election, Chidoka stated that the Athena Centre’s analysis, excluding invalid votes and phantom additions, indicated that the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, secured a slim victory. However, he stopped short of declaring Ighodalo the rightful winner, citing the extensive manipulation of the process.

“The evidence of systemic rigging is so substantial that we cannot even recognize this as a valid election,” he said. Chidoka warned that allowing the flawed results to stand would set a dangerous precedent, making credible elections impossible in 2027.

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Chidoka also raised concerns about over-voting, missing results, and the manipulation of BVAS records at INEC’s headquarters. He expressed dismay at what he described as the erosion of public trust in the electoral process, stating, “The BVAS machines, previously hailed as the gold standard for election integrity, were remotely manipulated by INEC. This revelation completely betrays public trust.”

The former minister called for urgent reforms to address systemic flaws in Nigeria’s electoral process, including auditing ballot papers before announcing results, transitioning to electronic voting, depoliticizing electoral appointments, and enacting stricter laws to punish electoral malpractice. He also criticized INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s leadership, joining other prominent voices, such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in calling for his immediate replacement.

The allegations have reignited debate over the judiciary’s role in safeguarding democracy. The APC’s candidate, Monday Okpebholo, was declared the winner with 291,667 votes, narrowly defeating Ighodalo’s 247,274 votes. However, opposition parties and observers have called on the judiciary to annul the results and order fresh elections.

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“If this flawed result stands, rest assured there will be no credible election in 2027,” he warned.

Chidoka then announced his resignation from the PDP, to enable him focus fully on fighting for electoral reform without being hamstrung by the toga of partisanship. “Nothing else is as important to me right now as the defense of our democracy,” he stated.

As Nigeria prepares for future elections, the Edo poll has raised serious questions about the integrity of its electoral institutions. Whether the judiciary will act decisively to restore confidence or allow doubts to linger remains a critical test for the country’s democracy.