Edo election: PDP fumes, demands review as APC’s Okpebholo wins

● PDP members protest, Obaseki calls for calm, loses council to APC
● Respect Edo people’s wish, PDP govs tell INEC
● Election observers express concern over transparency
● Tinubu, Buhari, Akpabio, Ganduje laud victory, congratulate Okphebolo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has kicked against the conduct of Saturday’s Edo State governorship election, alleging that the exercise was rigged in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A declaration of votes by INEC late yesterday showed that Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC was in the lead with 291,667 votes. He was followed by the PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, who polled PDP 247, 274 while the Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata had 22,763 votes.

Part of the results showed that Opkehbolo defeated Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki in his Oredo LGA with APC gathering 30,780 votes and PDP with 24,983 votes. Akpata, from the same local government, secured 5,389 votes. However, Obaseki won in his polling unit 19, Ward 04 with 127 votes against APC’s 35. Akpata lost in his polling unit 11, Ward 06, Oredo LGA, to PDP, getting 32 votes against PDP’s 41.

The APC candidate, Okpebholo, won the Esan Central Local Government with 10,990 votes against the PDP’s 8,618. He also won in his polling unit 001, Uwessan 1, with 102 votes, while Asue and Akpata secured one vote each in the polling unit.

Ighodalo from Esan Southeast also won his local government with 14,199 votes, against APC’s 8,398 and LP’s 98. He also won his unit 11, ward 1 in Ewohimi, Esan Southeast, with 200 votes against APC’s 45.

The former governor, Senator Adams Oshimhole, won his Etsako West local government with 32,107 votes against PDP’s 17,483. Oshiomhole also won his PU1, Ward 10, with 403 votes, with no votes going to the PDP and LP.

But while addressing reporters at the party’s state headquarters, PDP State Chairman Tony Aziegbemi alleged massive irregularities by INEC. He claimed that the Commission’s electoral officers made entries entirely different from the actual results uploaded on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, unjustly inflating votes favouring the APC and deducting the same from the PDP.

He said: “It would interest you to know that in Ward 9, Akoko Edo LGA, from the 36 Polling Units, results uploaded on the IREV showed that the total votes obtained by APC are 2,350, while 9,104 were entered into the EC8B result for APC. The total votes for PDP is 1,359, while 633 were entered in the EC8B.

“Also, in Ward 6, Akoko Edo LGA, elections were not held in Ward 6 Unit 12, 17, 15, 18, 14, and 16. However, results were returned for the said polling units in the ward result sheet (EC8B).

“In Egor, a simple collation of all the votes recorded in the polling unit results uploaded on the IREV showed that the APC obtained 10,972 votes, while 16,760 votes were recorded in the EC8C declared by the Returning Officer. For the PDP, a collation of the votes from the results uploaded on the IREV is 14,485, but 14,658 was returned on the EC8C declared by the Returning Officer.

“It would interest you to note that the collation of the Egor LGA was not done at the designated LGA centre but was moved to the INEC State Headquarters, and the PDP agent was not allowed access to be part of the exercise.

“Also at Etsako LGA, a simple collation of all the votes recorded in the polling unit results uploaded on the IREV showed that the APC obtained 29,858 votes, while 32,107 votes were recorded in the EC8C declared by the LGA Returning Officer. For the PDP, a collation of the votes from the results uploaded on the IREV is 16,712, but 17,483 was returned on the EC8C declared by the LGA Returning Officer.”

Aziegbemi demanded the immediate re-collation and re-computation of the actual results for the various polling units in the council areas in compliance with the INEC guidelines and regulations.

Further, in a statement yesterday, Aziegbemi said: “It has come to our attention that the INEC office in Benin City, Edo State, has taken steps to violently disregard and breach the stipulated process for the conduct of the ongoing Edo State governorship election.

“Aside from widespread failure and refusal to use the mandatory BVAS machine for accreditation of voters in the voting centres in Edo North, there is the intentional refusal by electoral officers at various levels to duly and properly collate the election results in line with the mandatory provisions of the INEC Regulations.

“The officers of INEC have illegally and unlawfully moved the collation of Wards and Local Government results from the designated places to the INEC State Headquarters reportedly to give room for manipulation of the results in fragrant contravention of the provisions regulating the process.

“Of direct relevance are the provisions of Part III Paragraphs 44-49 of the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2022, which provides as follows:

“Collation and declaration of results shall take place at locations designated by the Commission. Collation and Returning Officers as appointees of the Commission, shall abide by the oath of loyalty and act in accordance with extant Regulations and Guidelines of the Commission.

“The Collation and declaration of election results shall be done at the following levels depending on the type of election: i) Registration Area-RA/Ward (Collation for all elections);
ii) Local Government Area -LGA/Area Council (Collation for all elections).

“Furthermore, it is apparent from the available records that the number of accredited voters on the BVAS machine does not tally with the results returned from Estako West and Estako East LGAs, also in fragrant disregard to the provisions of the INEC Regulations.

“Clearly, results from polling units particularly in Estako West, Estako East, Akoko Edo LGAs as well as Ikpoba-Okha Ward 10, where the BVAS accreditation records are less than the votes returned must not be accepted for collation.

“Following from the above, we demand to query the BVAS machine in the aforementioned LGAS; return all collation at the wards, local governments to their lawful venues.”

But Governor Obaseki has called the people of the state to remain calm as the PDP will use democratic means to seek justice. The governor, in a live broadcast in the state, pleaded with the people to go on their normal business as PDP will seek redress in court.

This came as PDP governors cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to respect the wishes of the people, saying, “As the country perches on the horns of grave economic and security challenges, we expect that INEC and everyone involved in the Edo governorship elections will respect the sovereign wishes of the people of Edo State and spare the nation the unpredictable consequences of a disputed result at this time. This becomes more imperative, especially in the face of the threat to democracy by the total state capture inclination of the Tinubu-led APC government.”

Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who spoke on behalf of his counterparts said in a statement, “We do not doubt that given the laudable achievements of the exiting governor, Godwin Obaseki, and the qualities of our governorship candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, the enlightened Edo electorate would have had no difficulty in making the right choice, particularly given the hardship that the APC administration is spreading nationwide.

“As the process runs its course, we wish to remind the Independent National Electoral Commission of the need to live up to the oath of office of the Commission’s principal officers and the expectations of the people to serve as an impartial umpire committed to deepening our multi-party democracy and the survival of our country.”

No sooner had INEC begun announcing results than PDP members took to major streets of Benin to protest the outcome. The development raised the fear that the aftermath of the polls could be anything but peaceful.

When it was revealed that the collation for three local councils, Egor, Oredo, and Akoko Edo, had been moved to the commission’s state headquarters, the members who gathered in front of the INEC headquarters burst into protest songs.

However, as they marched through the streets, they were met by a heavy police presence, deployed to maintain order and prevent volence. One of the protesters, Honorable Obasuayi, told The Guardian that the refusal to collate the results at the local council areas stipulated by the Electoral Act was a ploy to rig out the PDP.

“But that will never happen. They must either do the right thing or all of us should be prepared to die here. They cannot manipulate the will of Edo people and get away with it,” he exclaimed.

Recall that the PDP in a statement on Saturday by National Publicity Secretary
Debo Ologunagba said, “The PDP in very strong terms cautions INEC and the APC to note that the people of Edo State already have authentic results from the polling units across the state and that any attempt by anybody or group whatsoever to alter the results will inflame the already charged situation with very severe consequences on perpetrators.”

The party added, “INEC must not lose sight of the violent protest that trailed the criminal attempt by the former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Hudu Ari to alter the outcome of the 2023 governorship election in that state which nearly led to the death of some INEC officials.

“INEC and the APC must note that any attempt to change the results of the Edo State governorship election will provoke worse consequences. The people have indicated their readiness to use every means allowed in a democracy, including legitimate physical confrontation, if necessary, to protect their votes.

“The PDP charges the Electoral Commission to resist the pressure by the APC and ensure that nobody tampers with the results as obtained from the polling units.”

INEC condemned the presence of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, other political leaders and their supporters in its state office in Benin City ahead of the collation of final results.

The Commission noted that it was deeply troubled by the development, adding that “nobody should disrupt the process at any stage and no one will be allowed to benefit from lawlessness”.

National Commissioner and Member Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, made the observation in a statement yesterday. Accompanied by his security aides, Obaseki reportedly walked into the INEC office in Benin City around 2:00 a.m. where he held meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

However, some APC members stormed INEC’s office in protest, demanding the governor’s exit. Among the protesters were APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru and the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Dennis Idahosa.

The Edo governor was at the INEC headquarters to protest the collation process, which he and his party alleged had been compromised. He was thereafter escorted out by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Edo election, Frank Mba.

INEC expressed concern about the visit, saying there is a mechanism for redressing complaints during collation, including the power to review results declared under duress.

The Commission said it would not hesitate to invoke such powers where necessary. The statement read: “Following the conclusion of voting yesterday, the Commission activated the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal and uploaded the Polling Unit results in earnest. The same results have also been collated from all the 192 Wards.

“Similarly, collation has been concluded in most of the Local Government Areas, and the designated officials are already at the collation centre in Benin City or on their way. We are set to commence State-level collation.

“However, the Commission received a deeply disturbing report from our REC of a threat to our office in Okpoba Okha Local Government Area yesterday, resulting in a stampede in which one of our officials was injured.

“We are similarly disturbed by the overnight presence and demonstrations by some political actors and their supporters at our State Head Office before the commencement of final collation.

“These actions are uncalled for. Nobody should disrupt the process at any stage, and no one will be allowed to benefit from lawlessness. “For the avoidance of doubt, the collation of results will proceed as provided by the Electoral Act 2022 and our regulations and guidelines for the conduct of elections. There is a mechanism for redressing complaints during collation, including the power to review results declared under duress. The Commission will not hesitate to invoke such powers where necessary.

“Accredited party agents, observers, and the media should be granted unimpeded access to all collation centres. “The Commission calls on the security agencies to continue to maintain the same vigilance and professionalism that led to the peaceful conduct of the election as we conclude the process.”

SEVERAL election observer groups expressed serious concerns regarding the transparency of INEC. In a joint statement released yesterday, the groups, including the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, Yiaga Africa, Kimpact Development Initiative, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, ElectHER, and TAF Africa, highlighted their worries.

The statement read, “We, the undersigned accredited civil society organisations observing the 2024 Edo Governorship Election, are deeply concerned about the transparency of the ongoing results collation process by INEC.”

The observers pointed to reports of disruptions at various ward and local council collation centres, including incidents of INEC officials being intimidated and attempts to collate results in ways that violate the Electoral Act and INEC’s own guidelines.

While acknowledging INEC’s recent statement recognising reports of result mutilation and its pledge to investigate and address any proven violations, the observer groups urged INEC to take decisive action.

They called on INEC to use its powers under Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022 to review any declarations and returns where results were not declared voluntarily or where there were violations of the Electoral Act and INEC regulations and guidelines.

Furthermore, the observers emphasised the need for security agencies to maintain neutrality and avoid interfering in the collation process. They stressed that accredited party agents, the media, and election observers must be granted full access to collation centres.

They argued that the role of security agencies is to safeguard the electoral process and not undermine its transparency, as this could negatively impact the credibility of the election outcome.

MEANWHILE, President Bola Tinubu congratulated Okpebholo on his victory at the polls. He also commended APC national leaders, Edo State leaders, and party governors for working hard to achieve victory.

In a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Tinubu said the victory testified to the people’s support for the ruling party, its progressive ideals, its economic reengineering programme and its commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians.

The President urged Okpebholo not to gloat over his victory but to see it as a challenging call to service. He encouraged him to demonstrate magnanimity by reaching out to his political rivals and uniting the people of Edo State to ensure its development.

Tinubu also praised other candidates who participated in the election for their contributions to advancing Nigeria’s democracy, saying peaceful political contests, such as the one on Saturday, portray Nigeria as a stable democracy.

The President urged all those aggrieved by the election outcome to seek redress through the legal channels. The APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, also congratulated Okpebholo on “his well-deserved victory at the Edo State governorship election.”

Ganduje, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Edwin Olofu, said the triumph is a testament to the confidence the people of Edo State have in the progressive vision of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led APC administration.

Ganduje, while conveying the party’s warmest felicitations to Okpebholo, asserted that his victory reflects the trust and hope placed in his leadership, as well as the hard work and resilience of other party members and supporters who ensured a free, fair, and peaceful election.

Ganduje expressed confidence that with Okpebholo’s leadership, Edo State is poised to witness unprecedented growth, peace, and development that will transform the lives of its citizens. He promised that Okpebholo would continue to uphold the values of good governance, transparency, and service to the people, which according to him, have been the bedrock of APC’s vision for Nigeria.

Ganduje thanked President Tinubu and the Progressive Governors’ Forum for their support, adding that the victory is for all the people of Edo, and “we look forward to a prosperous new chapter for the state.”

Similarly, former President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated Okpebholo, following “this prized, historic electoral victory.” In a statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu, Buhari said, “Congratulations to the APC and the election winner, Senator Monday Okpebholo on the historic electoral victory, and my warmest wishes for a new lease of life for Edo State and its people.

“I very much hope the winners and the losers will work together to strengthen democracy and maintain the trajectory of development in the state. “I commend the law enforcement agencies for the efforts that they put into ensuring a peaceful election, and the multitude of election officials who strive to improve with each election.

“I pray that Nigeria, the continent’s most populous country, will continue to achieve remarkable progress under democracy.” Relatedly, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described APC’s success in Edo State as a reflection of the South’s support for President Tinubu and what to expect in 2027.

Speaking shortly after INEC declared Okpebholo the winner of the keenly contested election in Benin City, Akpabio said the party would win subsequent elections in the region and congratulated all APC members on the victory.