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The Acting National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum, has restated the party’s readiness to legally retrieve its ‘stolen mandate’ in the just concluded Edo state governorship election.
At the end of the election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress(APC) winner, having polled 291, 667 votes.
The PDP came second with its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, polling 247,274 votes, while Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) came a distant third with 22,763 votes.
Rejecting the results during a media parley in Abuja Monday, Damagum insisted that Edo people clearly chose Ighodalo as their next governor.
“It is with a deep sense of burden and serious concern for our Democracy and political stability of our dear nation that I address you today.
“From unfolding political events in the country, the latest being the brazen rigging of the Saturday, September 21, 2024 Edo State Governorship election by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in connivance with government-controlled agencies, it is clear that our democracy is under threat.
“As you know and widely reported in all segments of the media, the 2024 Edo State Governorship election was barefacedly compromised by the APC in collusion with unpatriotic security operatives and heavily procured officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who viciously trampled on the votes of the people in defiance of the Law and total disregard to the Sovereign Will of the people of Edo State.
“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 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),” Damagum said.
The party chair also said: “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.
“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.”
…Victory claim
While laying claims to victory, the party said: “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.
“The PDP therefore unequivocally rejects the final result of the Edo State Governorship election as declared by INEC as it did not meet the minimum standard for democracy having not reflected the expressed Will and aspiration of the people in line with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and INEC Guidelines for State Governorship election.
“The PDP demands that INEC within the time stipulated by Section 65 of the Electoral Act, 2022 review the Edo State governorship election and announce results only as obtained from the genuine votes cast at the Polling Units.
“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.”
…Ondo our next target – Ganduje
Commenting on his party’s victory, APC National Chairman Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje assured the same feat will be replicated in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo state.
The former Kano state governor declared that the party will use the knowledge-driven approach it adopted in Edo to achieve similar success in Ondo state and the South-east zone too.
Ganduje made the comments while closing the situation room set up at the party’s national secretariat, to monitor the just concluded Edo governorship election.
According to Ganduje, the party got challenged by the incendiary comment of the Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki.
According to him, Obaseki had always been one of their own until he officially defected with their mandate to the PDP.
The APC national chairman said in place of Obaseki’s do-or-die position, they insisted that their members and supporters should stick with the party’s ‘do-and-succeed’ ideology, which paid off at the end of the day.
“This exercise (Edo governorship election) was a difficult one because we competed with several obstacles. We had a governor (Obaseki) who was one of our own before. We are children of the same father, but with different mothers, all engaged in the contests. So, we didn’t part well. We parted in pieces, and then he left our party for the PDP, where the fight continued until yesterday (Sunday) when we were able to reclaim power.
“Even before the election, one side is already overheating the polity. He (Obaseki) said it is a do-or-die election. But we said ‘No’; our own would be do-and-succeed. This is because if you die, who will introduce your successor? So, we are here to thank all the stakeholders.
“From what happened, we are going to use the result, the pattern of voting, successes and failures in different units to the APC institution, which is driven by knowledge. The South East has five states. But two of them belong to our big party, the APC. So, we will see how we can recover many States in our favour. I now formally close (the Edo election situation room),” he said.
The former governor appreciated the various security agencies who participated in the election for maintaining law and order.
He also thanked the APC governors in attendance for showing solidarity with the governor-elect and for their strong support while the poll lasted.
…FEC hails Okpebholo’s victory
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) Monday congratulated the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state Senator Monday Okpebholo over his victory at the Saturday elections.
The council also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to deepening the country’s electoral processes.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr George Akume, commended the president for strengthening the country’s democracy.
“We want to use this opportunity, Mr Chairman, to congratulate the people of Edo States, particularly the APC family, father of the APC, in their fantastic outing, recording a huge victory, which had eluded the APC for over eight years.
“The election has been adjudged to be free and fair and that is what Mr. President has always stood for. We want to thank you, Mr. President, for being committed to the electoral process and ethos of democracy. Once again, we thank our family members of the APC from Edo state for this wonderful showing,” he said.
The FEC also observed a minute silence in honour of the former Minister of Women and Youth Development, Mrs Salome Audu Jankada, who passed away on August 27, 2024.
The SGF, who announced this, said the deceased served as a member of the Federal Executive Council during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“Mister Chairman, we want to announce the demise of a former member of the Federal Executive Council, Mrs. Salome Audu Jankada. Mrs Salome Audu Jankada was a member of the Federal Executive Council under the government of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, she was Minister Of Women Affairs and Youth Development.
“She passed on on August 27, 2024. In line with our tradition, Mr. Chairman, may I please request Council members to rise and observe a minute silence in honour of the former Federal Executive Council member,” he said.
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