The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) announced on Sunday that Asue Ighodalo, their nominee for governor of 2024, has won.
The PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, was declared the winner of the Edo State governorship election by the party, according to a statement released by Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the party. Polling agents in the State also confirmed this conclusion.
Ologunagba further stated that Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, the Chairman of the Edo PDP National Campaign Council, had taken a similar stance and cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against tampering with the results.
The PDP accused the APC of trying to steal the mandate of its candidate.
The party warned that any attempt to change the results of the Edo State governorship election and allocate victory to a defeated candidate would provoke dire consequences and may be a recipe for a huge crisis in Edo State.
Recall that Fintiri had levelled serious allegations against INEC regarding the Edo election.
Speaking at a press conference in Benin on Sunday, Fintiri, accused INEC of bias, claiming that agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were denied access to the INEC office before the collation process.
The PDP, through its spokesperson, also declared total support for what Fintiri said.
According to Ologunagba, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stands by the results of the Edo State Governorship election as garnered by its polling agents across the State and echoed by the Chairman of the Edo PDP National Campaign Council, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State which indicate that the PDP candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo clearly won the election.
“The PDP asserts that the rush, venom and hauling of insults with which the All Progressives Congress (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.
“As Governor Fintiri presented, the results collated from the Polling Units have Asue Ighodalo in 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.
“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 Will of the people as expressed at the Polling Units. Such will be a recipe for a huge crisis in the State as the people of Edo State will never allow their mandate 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 results of the Edo State governorship election and allocate victory to a defeated candidate will provoke worse consequences.
“INEC must therefore do that which is right in the interest of peace, stability and sustenance of Democracy in Nigeria.”