The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly contested the outcome of the governorship election held in Edo State on Saturday, which resulted in the victory of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okpebholo was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after securing 291,667 votes, surpassing the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who received 247,274 votes, and the Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata, who garnered 22,763 votes.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, serving as the chairman of the Edo State Governorship Election National Campaign Council, expressed his dissatisfaction with the election process. On Sunday, Fintiri accused INEC of violating the Electoral Act, calling for the commission to be held accountable.
He maintained that the results from the polling units indicated that Ighodalo was leading before the process was allegedly hijacked by the APC, with support from certain INEC officials and security personnel.
The PDP further elaborated on its stance in a statement from its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who supported Fintiri’s claims. The party insisted that the data collected by its agents at polling units clearly showed that Ighodalo had won the election, and accused the APC of engaging in fraudulent manipulations during the collation of results. According to the PDP, the APC’s swift and aggressive response to Fintiri’s remarks only confirmed its desperation to cover up election fraud.
The PDP Governors Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, backed these allegations, calling on INEC to ensure that the true will of the Edo people, as reflected in the original polling results, be honored. They emphasized the importance of protecting democracy, especially in light of the challenging economic and security conditions in Nigeria, warning of potential unrest if the election result remained disputed.
At the collation center on Sunday, Iyoha Osaigbovo, the PDP’s state agent, also voiced concerns that the APC’s reported votes were inflated and did not align with the true intent of the electorate. He urged INEC to reconsider the results, claiming they had been manipulated in favor of the APC.
However, the acting APC chairman in Edo State, Jarrett Tenebe, dismissed these claims, arguing that Edo North, a region where the APC performed strongly, had historically supported the party. Tenebe also rejected accusations of BVAS machine tampering, insisting that the PDP’s complaints should be directed to INEC, not the APC.
Further allegations were made by Tony Aziegbemi, the PDP’s state chairman, who submitted a formal protest to INEC. He pointed out specific discrepancies in the results, citing vote inflation for the APC and deductions from the PDP’s tally in key local government areas like Akoko Edo, Egor, and Etsako West.
Aziegbemi detailed instances where the votes announced at the collation center differed from those uploaded on INEC’s Result Viewing (IREV) platform, and called for a re-collation and re-computation of votes to reflect the accurate results.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party indicated it was still reviewing the situation before taking a final position, while expressing disappointment over reports of voter inducement on election day.
In response to the growing unrest, some PDP youths protested outside INEC’s office, alleging vote tampering and manipulation of the results. Though confined to a specific area by security forces, the protesters expressed their discontent with the announced outcome. The PDP indicated it was considering all available options, including legal action, to challenge the result.
Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki urged the people to remain calm and avoid violence, despite their frustration with the election outcome. He criticized the electoral process, describing it as a “travesty of democracy,” but encouraged citizens to seek peaceful means of redress.
He assured the public that the government remained committed to their welfare and security, even as they faced the disappointment of the election results.
On the other hand, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the governor-elect, expressed gratitude to the people of Edo State for their support and promised to govern with their interests in mind.
He likened his future governance to the achievements of Senator Godswill Akpabio during his tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom State. Okpebholo’s victory was celebrated by APC leaders, including former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who framed the result as a divine victory for the state.
President Bola Tinubu also congratulated Okpebholo, describing the election as a reflection of the people’s confidence in the APC’s governance and its vision for Nigeria’s future. Tinubu urged Okpebholo to approach his new role with humility and to work towards uniting the people of Edo State.
Similarly, former President Muhammadu Buhari praised the conduct of the election and expressed hope that both winners and losers would work together to advance the state’s development. He also commended INEC and security agencies for ensuring a peaceful election process.
As the political landscape in Edo State settles following the election, the PDP continues to explore its legal options, while the APC looks forward to steering the state’s development under the leadership of Senator Okpebholo.
 has strongly contested the outcome of the governorship election held in Edo State on Saturday, which resulted in the victory of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).){kind=link}