Asue Ighodalo, PDP’s candidate in the Edo election, has alleged widespread manipulation by APC and INEC. Ighodalo revealed shocking discrepancies in the results and called on the people of Edo State to remain peaceful but determined to seek justice.
In a fierce and emotional reaction following the results of the Edo State governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of orchestrating a systematic rigging of the election to favor the ruling party. Ighodalo expressed his deep disappointment and frustration over what he described as blatant manipulation of the electoral process, lamenting the undermining of democratic values in the state.
Speaking to the media, Ighodalo claimed that the election was marred by widespread irregularities, especially in areas where the APC secured overwhelming victories. According to him, results from some polling units reflected inflated vote counts far exceeding the number of accredited voters.
One such case, Asue Ighodalo revealed, occurred in Ikpoba-Okha, where the total number of accredited voters was 156, but the APC was awarded an astonishing 2,110 votes, while the PDP received only 57 votes. This, according to the PDP candidate, was not an isolated incident. He highlighted over 50 other polling units where similar anomalies were recorded, pointing to a deliberate attempt to falsify results in favor of the ruling party.
“It’s impossible to have more votes than the number of accredited voters,” Ighodalo lamented, expressing disbelief at the scale of the manipulation. “The APC won in all the areas where these inflated results were declared. This can only be a result of complicity and connivance by INEC,” he added, casting doubt on the neutrality of the electoral body.
Ighodalo did not mince words when addressing INEC’s role in the election, accusing the commission of colluding with the APC to subvert the will of the people of Edo State. He argued that the integrity of the election had been compromised by the very institution that is supposed to safeguard it.
“INEC has allowed itself to be used as a tool for the APC’s agenda. This manipulation cannot happen without INEC’s involvement,” he stated. Ighodalo further criticized the atmosphere surrounding the election, claiming that APC thugs were actively involved in intimidating voters and disrupting the electoral process, all while being protected by security forces.
Touching on the role of security agencies, Asue Ighodalo claimed that while some officers performed their duties with professionalism, others turned a blind eye to the APC’s underhanded tactics. He acknowledged that some security personnel, who had previously worked with Governor Godwin Obaseki, were cautious and respectful. However, he insisted that the overwhelming presence of APC thugs at polling units created a hostile environment for voters.
Governor Godwin Obaseki, who had been at the forefront of the PDP’s campaign, attempted to intervene during the collation of results. According to Ighodalo, the governor visited INEC’s office to demand explanations for the delays in releasing results, particularly in key local government areas such as Oredo and Ikpoba-Okha, where the APC’s wins were highly controversial. Ighodalo credited Obaseki’s intervention for forcing INEC to continue the collation of results, but he questioned the credibility of the entire process.
Asue Ighodalo emphasized that the PDP and its supporters would not accept the outcome of an election that was tainted by irregularities. He urged the people of Edo State to remain calm but resolute, assuring them that the party would seek redress through legal and democratic means.
“We are peace-loving people, but we cannot stand by and allow injustice to prevail,” Ighodalo said. “This is not just a tragedy for Edo State but a travesty of democracy. The will of the people has been subverted, and we must fight for justice.”
He also warned that the manipulation of elections has broader consequences for the stability of the country, stating that history has shown that electoral injustice can lead to civil unrest. “When the people’s voice is silenced, it breeds anger and frustration, which can escalate into a much bigger problem for the nation,” Ighodalo concluded.
The PDP has officially rejected the election results and is expected to challenge them in court. Ighodalo and his party are preparing to present evidence of irregularities and vote manipulation as they seek to overturn the results. As the political atmosphere in Edo State remains tense, the people of the state are awaiting the next steps from the PDP and INEC, with many hoping that justice will prevail. WATCH VIDEO BELOW:
