Elections in Edo State Spark Controversy as Opposition Candidate Seeks Redress

Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the just-concluded Edo State governorship election, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the results, citing widespread irregularities and fraud. During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ighodalo claimed his mandate was stolen by the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the help of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to Media Talk Africa, Ighodalo finished second in the election with 247,274 votes, while Monday Okpebholo of the APC was declared the winner with 291,667 votes. The Labour Party candidate, Olumide Akpata, secured 22,763 votes.

Ighodalo pointed to several issues, including the failure to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in over 160 polling units, the skipping of proper collation procedures from ward to state level, and alleged collusion between INEC, the police, and the APC to suppress the will of Edo voters.

He also accused the APC of engaging in vote-buying, offering cash incentives to voters ranging from N25,000 to N50,000, while his party refrained from such practices.

The PDP candidate has now announced his intention to take the matter to the tribunal, where he believes the evidence will prove that the PDP was the rightful winner of the election.

"I will stay with the people of Edo State who fully gave me the mandate of their free will, and I will go into the courts and the tribunal to reclaim our mandate and then form the government," Ighodalo said.

In a blow to the APC’s bid for reconciliation, Ighodalo dismissed Okpebholo’s offer of friendship, stating that accepting such overtures would be impossible while the mandate remains contested.

The developments in Edo State serve as a reminder of the ongoing challenges facing Nigeria’s electoral process, with parties and candidates frequently disputing the results of elections and seeking redress through various means.