The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced its rejection of the Edo State governorship election results and vowed to challenge the outcome in court.
At a press conference in Abuja on Monday, PDP Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to review the results, asserting that only the genuine votes cast at polling units should be considered.
Damagum emphasized that the people of Edo State overwhelmingly chose Dr. Asue Ighodalo as their governor, and accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the collation process.
According to him, the figures were altered during the state collation exercise to favor the APC candidate, despite clear evidence from polling units showing that PDP had won.
“We witnessed violence, intimidation, and electoral fraud at the hands of the APC,”
Damagum said. “However, the results from the polling units showed that Dr. Ighodalo emerged victorious before the manipulation at the state collation center.”
The PDP leader stated that the party will closely scrutinize the judiciary’s response to the case, noting that the way the courts handle the matter will determine whether Nigeria’s democratic and judicial systems can be trusted.
Damagum warned that if justice is not served, the country’s democracy could be in jeopardy.
“We cannot overrule a situation where justice will be dispensed, but we will put the judiciary under the scrutiny of Nigerians,” Damagum added. “If the judicial system does not work, then I don’t know if we will still have a country.”
He also accused the APC of conspiring with INEC officials and security operatives to undermine the electoral process, stating that these actions have threatened Nigeria’s democracy.
The PDP had previously raised concerns about an alleged plot by the APC to manipulate the election in its favor, and with the court case looming, the party seeks to restore what it believes is the rightful outcome of the election.
