By Olusegun Olanrewaju and Cross Udo
In a fiercely contested and tension-filled gubernatorial race in Edo State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, yesterday emerged victorious, defeating key rivals of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Asue Ighodalo and Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata.
The high-stakes election was riddled with accusations and counter-accusations of electoral irregularities, further heightening the drama.
*INEC declares APC’s Okpebholo gov-elect; trounces Ighodalo, Akpata
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Okpebholo, the APC candidate, the winner of the governorship election.
According to INEC’s Returning officer, Prof Farouq Adamu Kuta, the APC candidate scored a total of 291,667 as against 247 655 votes won by the PDP candidate, Ighodalo, of the PDP, to emerge a winner.
Akpata, of the P, came a distant third with 22,763 votes.
Okpebholo won in 11 of the state’s 18 local government areas, while Ighodalo won in the remaining ones.
Akpata lost in all the local government areas, including his local council area, Oredo.
The APC candidate was, therefore, declared the winner.
*Accusations and counter-accusations
Shortly before the final declaration was made, the PDP rejected the results, insisting that it stood by the election results garnered by its polling agents across the state. This was echoed by the chairman of the Edo PDP National Campaign Council, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.
The party has since headed for the courts to protest the outcome of the results.
The ruling party said the results generated and collated by its agents indicated that the party’s candidate, Ighodalo, ‘clearly won’ the election.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja yesterday, said in a statement, “The PDP asserts that the rush, venom and hauling of insults with which the APC attacked Governor Fintiri “only confirms APC’s violent desperation to cover its manipulations and steal the mandate freely given to Dr. Asue Ighodalo by the people of Edo State as reflected in the genuine votes cast at the Polling Units.”
Olugunagba stated, “As Governor Fintiri presented, the results collated from the Polling Units have Asue Ighodalo in a clear lead before the state collation exercise was hijacked by the APC which, in connivance of some unscrupulous INEC and security officials, engaged in blatant alteration and substitution of the genuine results with fabricated figures in favour of the defeated APC candidate.”
He added, “The PDP had on several occasions alerted Nigerians of this sinister plot by the APC, which will be firmly resisted as the APC and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo, were thoroughly defeated in the election.
“The PDP, in the strongest terms, cautions the APC and INEC not to announce or declare any result that does not reflect the people’s will as expressed at the Polling Units.
“Such will be a recipe for a massive crisis in the State as the people of Edo State will never allow their mandate to be in illegitimate hands.
“Our party, again, cautions INEC not to 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.
“Any attempt to change the Edo State governorship election results and allocate victory to a defeated candidate will provoke worse consequences.”
The PDP added, “INEC must, therefore, do what is right in the interest of peace, stability, and sustenance of Democracy in Nigeria.”
Earlier in a press briefing, governors elected on the PDP platform reiterated their commitment to fostering democratic governance in Nigeria’s current economic and security challenges and the threat posed by President Bola Tinubu’s APC.
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, chairman of the PDP Governors Forum (PDPGF), said this in a pre-official announcement of the Edo State governorship election results by INEC in Abuja yesterday.
Mohammed stated, “The PDPGF unequivocally reiterates its commitment to democratic best practices and the peace and stability of a united Nigeria in which the citizens are not only spared the contrived ordeal of the moment but, more importantly, provided alternative opportunities to realise their legitimate dreams.
“We look forward to the announcement of a result that truly represents the wishes of the Edo people as freely expressed through their votes yesterday.”
He added that he and his colleagues had followed developments in the Edo governorship elections with keen interest and wished “to salute the good people of Edo State, for trooping out in their large numbers, to exercise their legitimate duty to choose the person who would govern the state for the next four years.”
The governor noted that, as PDP governors, they do not doubt that given the laudable achievements of the exiting governor, Godwin Obaseki, and the qualities of the party’s governorship candidate, 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.
The PDP governors, however, said, “As the process runs its course, we wish to remind the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, 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.
“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 All Progressives Congress, APC government.”
“We stand with our governors, H/E Fintiri, H/E Diri, H/E Agbu Kefas, and H/E Oborevwori of Adamawa, Bayelsa, Taraba, and Delta States, respectively, on all the actions and positions that they have taken on our behalf, concerning maintaining the sanctity of the elections.
“We note with immense pride and satisfaction the role being played by the PDP Governors, His Excellency Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, His Excellency Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas of Taraba State and His Excellency, the Rt. Hon. Sherif Francis Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State, has painstakingly monitored the exercise per the law and guided the electorate to remain calm and law-abiding throughout the process.
“We are satisfied that our colleagues as led by His Excellency Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, simply stated the results of a few local government areas as were already collated and captured on the INEC IREV portal, to forestall any manipulation by unscrupulous elements and, ultimately, averting a situation that could throw the exercise into disrepute and the nation into political jeopardy.
“Therefore, the public is advised to disregard the mischievous accusation by the APC that anyone usurped INEC’s responsibility, let alone distinguished Nigerians who are governors in their respective states.”
*Ighodalo campaign DG accuses Oshiomhole, others of ‘figure manipulation’
Also, as a direct reaction to the immediacy of the announcement of results yesterday, the Director-General of the Asue Ighodalo Campaign Team, Matthew Idoiyekemwem, accused the Senator for Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole of electoral manipulation in the governorship election in Edo State.
Idoiyekemwem, the lead campaigner for Ighodalo, the PDP candidate, alleged that former Edo governor Oshiomhole used his influence as a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to get victory for his party’s candidate, Okpebholo.
He also called for the immediate removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State, Anugbum Onuoha, who is said to be related to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Idoiyekemwem made these allegations when he led a group of men to protest the situation yesterday morning.
*Yiaga Africa
On Saturday, Yiaga Africa, one of the election observation groups, reported cases of vote-buying and logistical challenges in the elections.
The organisation noted that agents of the two major political parties—APC and PDP—were seen bribing voters with N10,000 each in some polling units, especially in Igueben and Ikpoba/Okha LGAs.
The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) Election Analysis Centre (EAC) corroborated this in a statement on its X handle.
It added that fake news also featured prominently in the Edo elections.
Although it noted that the elections were peaceful, CDD-West Africa explained that “prevailing socio-economic” challenges and the rising cost of petrol “would no doubt make vote-buying an appealing prospect for politicians.”
*Obaseki appeals for calm
The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has appealed to residents to remain calm over Saturday’s governorship election, which INEC announced yesterday.
Reacting in a statement, Obaseki said the election was marred by disregard for processes and the rule of law and urged aggrieved persons to explore legal options to express their reactions.
The statement reads, “In the last few months, the various political parties have embarked on very rigorous campaigns to sell their respective candidates for the office of governor to the people of Edo State, an exercise that came to a climax yesterday with the gubernatorial election.
“The attractive thing about democracy is its power on the people to choose who governs them. Therefore, when this power is blatantly seized from the people, it is not just a tragedy but a travesty of democracy.
“Regrettably, the outcome of the September 21st governorship election appears to have daunted the spirit of many Edo people who feel powerless in the face of the brute force of the institutions that are supposed to protect them. It is, therefore, understandable that many people feel sad and aggrieved.
“But amid this despair, I am urging all my fellow Edo citizens to maintain calm and not resort to violence and destruction of property despite this provocation.
“Peace and justice will always win at the end, and this is my prescription to all the good people of Edo State who feel vexed and violated at this time.
“It is evident to the least discerning the impunity and reckless disregard for processes and law displayed in this gubernatorial election.
“In a democracy, there are safeguards for addressing grievances, and we hope that those affected will seek resolution for this blatant disregard of law and process.
“With this in mind, I implore all Edo people to go about their lawful businesses and rest assured of our government’s commitment to your well-being and security.”
*Your victory is call to service, Tinubu tells Okpebholo
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Okpebholo on his victory at the polls.
Tinubu said that 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.
In his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy statement, Bayo Onanuga, the President, commended APC national leaders, Edo State leaders, and party governors for working hard to achieve victory.
He 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.
He urged Senator Okpebholo not to gloat over his victory but to see it as a challenging call to service. He encourages 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.
He urged all those aggrieved by the election outcome to seek redress through the legal channels.
In addition, the President commended the people of Edo State for their orderly and peaceful conduct during the election, underscoring the maturing of Nigeria’s democracy after 25 years.
“I commend the INEC and our security agencies for working round the clock to conduct a prosperous, peaceful, and largely hitch-free exercise.
“INEC has once again demonstrated that it is committed to organising a free and fair election in our country,” Tinubu said.
