The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo chapter has slammed the conduct of the governorship election in Edo state.
On Sunday, September 22nd, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Monday Okpebholo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the gubernatorial election conducted on September 21.
Okpebholo, who is currently a senator, won the election with 291,667 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 247,274 votes.
The candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Olumide Akpata, came a distant third with a total of 22,763 votes.
Through a statement made available on Monday by Ayo Fadaka, special adviser, media and publicity of the PDP media campaign organisation in the state, described the election as a “rape of democracy”.
“The Edo State Governorship Election results represent another rape on democracy in Nigeria and for the umpteenth time, we declare that this is absolutely condemnable, as it betrays a total disregard for the electoral desires of the people as validly expressed through the ballot,” the statement reads.
“Nigerians are not fooled by the officially declared result by INEC. They know that PDP won that election and this is a shame on those who sit atop our affairs. It is disappointing that INEC could disregard the electoral law by shifting the collation of votes in the designated local government collation centres to its headquarters in Benin, this is expressly against the electoral law.
“In Ondo State, we have taken due cognisance of these dastardly acts committed by agencies saddled with the responsibilities to provide level playing grounds, and sadly failed to live up to expectations. It is a shameful act that lowers the status and respect due to Nigeria in the committee of nations.
“We need to underscore that we will not acquiesce or take kindly to any act geared towards compromising votes in our election.”
The party warned that the irregularities that happened in Edo state will not be allowed during the imminent Ondo state governorship election.
“We state emphatically for all to see and hear that Ondo is not Edo, our attitude, understanding and patience differ, we will vote and protect our vote here,” the statement adds.
“We are resolved to give everything to ensure that the electoral desires of our people will command attention and attain the desired goals.
“As they say, politics is local, in Ondo State, the people are already protesting against the hardship imposed on them by the APC government, they are protesting against hunger, lack and want, Ondo State people are protesting against the high inflationary trend that has denied them not only the future but even the present!
“In Ondo State, we are already protesting against a Party, the APC and a government that has institutionalised hardship, penury and poverty and our protest day is the 16th of November, we thus sound a note of warning to those whose trade is the compromise of ballot that danger looms if they seek to tamper with our votes.”