I am not filing petition at Edo Election Tribunal says Ize-Iyamu

APC candidate in the Edo Governorship election Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has said that he will not be filing any at the Election Tribunal but will rather pursue all pre-election cases against the PDP and its candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

In a statement on Monday, he said though the election was marred by malpractices, it is to avoid tension in the state, that he will not be going to the Election Petitions tribunal.

He said, “Contrary to orchestrated media reports, the election was neither free nor fair. There were several episodes of violence, voter intimidation and falsification of results.

“In particular, there were unlawful cancellations of results particularly from Urhonigbe South and North in Orhiomwon, while results were falsified from many polling units in Ofunama in Ovia South West, and in parts of Ovia North East, Owan West, Oredo, Egor, Ikpoba-Okha, Esan North East, Esan West, Esan South East, and Uhunmwode Local Government Areas.

“Sadly, two persons were killed during the election, while gun-wielding thugs took over collation centres in many locations without the intervention of law-enforcement agents”

Accordingly to Pastor Ize-Iyamu,” There were also several cases of malfunctioning card readers, which disenfranchised duly registered voters, in addition to many cases of unregistered voters voting with pre-purchased voters’ cards not collected by their actual owners”.

Mr Ize-Iyamu said, “These malpractices could easily form the basis to challenge the election results. We have however decided not to commence an election petition. This is to avoid further tension in the state”.

He added, “We are also mindful that the leadership of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and many well-placed individuals have made pronouncements endorsing the process, which we have chosen to respect”.

Ize-Iyamu who argued that elections are far more than actual voting, just as democracy includes more than just elections said the fact that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have continued to pursue 13 pre-election suits in various courts against us, all totalling 13 means he and his party will do the same.

“On our part, we had filed two pre-election cases against the PDP and its flagbearer challenging their eligibility to contest the election. The outcome of these pending cases have direct effect on the election. Consequently, we have decided to continue with our pre-election cases in full exercise of our legal rights”.