Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

PDP ready to inspect Edo poll materials, says INEC

POSTED ON October 9, 2024 •   POLITICS      BY Benedicta Bassey
Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu/ Photo credit: Guardian

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will today inspect the party electoral materials for the just concluded September 21, Edo State governorship poll, the Independent National Electoral Commission has said.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, Dr. Augbum Onuoha, confirmed the inspection, adding that the inspection became necessary following complaints by the PDP.

Recall that in a statement on Monday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, had alleged that INEC officials were deliberately withholding the electoral materials to allegedly doctor them in order to conceal the alleged rigging of the poll.

In response to the PDP’s concerns, the REC said the party would be granted access to the electoral materials today.

“We have asked them to come tomorrow (Wednesday),” the REC said.

In a statement on Tuesday,  Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare, accused INEC of employing delay tactics in alleged connivance with the All Progressives Congress to obstruct justice and frustrate the efforts of the PDP to challenge the outcome of the poll in court.

INEC had declared the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, winner of the poll with 291,667 votes, to edge out PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, who recorded 247,274 votes.

But the PDP and Ighodalo alleged possible manipulation of the poll, vowing to challenge the result in court.

In a bid to have evidence to file a petition challenging the poll results, the party secured a court order, directing INEC to allow them to inspect the electoral materials.

They, however, expressed frustration that INEC had refused to grant them access.

Speaking on the situation, Nehikhare said, “We are aware that the clandestine and surreptitious game plan is to frustrate the PDP’s appeal and ensure the petition is not filed before the Saturday deadline.”

The commissioner also accused the APC of planning to burn the INEC office so as to destroy the BVAS machines and other electoral materials in an attempt to eliminate evidence of their alleged ‘electoral fraud.’

On Monday, the PDP legal team, led by Olusegun Jolaawo (SAN), had visited the INEC headquarters in Benin City, to access the BVAS machine, voters register, ballot papers and other election materials but was refused access to the materials despite presenting the court order to INEC officials.

On Tuesday, the women wing of the Edo PDP staged a protest demanding the return of the allegedly stolen mandate of Ighodalo with various placards.

A former Chairman of the Esan West Local Government Council, Stella Okoro, who spoke on behalf of the women wing said they were deeply pained by the outcome of the election.

She added, “We are here today at the NUJ, to express our feelings, and our pains. We are troubled because of our stolen mandate. Our stolen mandate is what we are asking for.

“We are not lions and tigers, we voted. Edo people came out to vote for Asue Ighodalo and that is why we, mothers are here today, we are in pains, we are mourning, we are in blacks, telling them to give us back our stolen mandate.

“They used INEC, police and soldiers  to rob us.

“They arrested our people and they were taken to Abuja, some were in the State CID. We are not happy. We have never seen this kind of election before.

“Upon all the intimidation, upon all the money they spent, Edo people said no. It is Asue Ighodalo and Osarodion Ogie they want and they did and they won.

“Give us our mandate or else we will not rest until they give it to us. The Almighty God is hearing the women’s voice.”

But in response to the agitation by the PDP, the Director of Publicity, Edo APC Governorship Campaign Council, Orobosa Omo-Ojo denied APC’s involvement in the matter.

He said, “The All Progressives Congress read the attack on our party by the defeated Peoples Democratic Party in our dear state, with utter dismay at the falsehood, they have designed to mischievously misrepresent the true situation at the Benin Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the presence of the APC youths at the INEC office is to safeguard our hard-earned victory, especially as we have trusted information that the PDP Chairman in Edo State, Tony Aziegbemi, has planned to take advantage of his acquittance with a female INEC ICT department staff member, from one of the neighbouring states, to falsify some already declared results.

“We call on Nigerians to disregard the baseless statement credited to Asue Media Organisation, through one Erhabor Emokpae, accusing the police and other law enforcement agencies of planning to manipulate the electoral process to favour our party.

“The All Progressives Congress has no blame in the PDP judicial mishap.”

READ ALSO
No Defection Required: ADC Grants Peter Obi and El-Rufai Freedom to Stay with Current Parties
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 31, 2025 0

The newly established African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced that the Labour Party's presid...

READ ALSO
SGF Urged Northern Politicians to Postpone Presidential Aspirations Until 2031
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 29, 2025 0

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, has urged politicians from the...

READ ALSO
Fayose Endorses Tinubu, Oyebanji for 2027 Elections
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 29, 2025 0

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has officially endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Gover...

READ ALSO
SDP Expels Nasir El-Rufai for Misrepresentation and Manipulation
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 28, 2025 0

The National Working Committee of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expelled former Governor of...

READ ALSO
Reps Seek to Create Independent Body to Track Federal Projects
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 24, 2025 0

The House of Representatives is set to hold a public hearing to gather feedback from stakeholders re...

READ ALSO
PDP Shifts National Convention to November, Picks Ibadan Amid Internal Power Struggle
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 24, 2025 0

Abuja, Nigeria  – The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has announced the postpo...

READ ALSO
APC Appoints Yilwatda Nentawe as Chairman, Declares 2027 a ‘Done Deal
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 24, 2025 0

Abuja, Nigeria – The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC)...

READ ALSO
APC's National Assembly Power Grows to 70 with PDP Senator Defections
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 23, 2025 0

The number of All Progressives Congress (APC) senators in the National Assembly increased to 70 on W...

OUR CHANNELS:

Obi Advocates for Honoring Entrepreneurs over Politicians in Nigeria
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 1, 2025 0

Former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has emph...


NOGASA Warns of Nationwide Disruptions as Dangote Refinery Plans Direct Supply to Consumers
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 1, 2025 0

The Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria has issued a warning regarding the Dangote...


NBS Reports Surge in Cooking Gas and Kerosene Prices across Nigeria
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 2, 2025 0

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has announced a rise in the average costs of cooking gas and...


FG Pledges to End Tertiary Education Strikes, Launches Diaspora Bridge Initiative
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 1, 2025 0

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated that the Federal Government, led by President Bo...


Two Convicted of Poisoning Katsina Commissioner
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 1, 2025 0

A Katsina High Court has condemned two ex-domestic workers to death by hanging for the murder of Rab...


Former Super Falcons Star Calls out FG for Neglecting Women’s Football Pioneers
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 31, 2025 0

Patience Avre Odeli, a former striker for the Super Falcons, has accused past Nigerian governments a...


Super Eagles B Gear Up for Final Friendly Against Zanzibar Ahead of CHAN 2024
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 1, 2025 0

The Super Eagles B are set to play the Zanzibar national team today in their second and final friend...


FG to Raise N796bn Annually from New 5% Petrol Surcharge
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 1, 2025 0

The Federal Government is expected to generate N796bn annually from the implementation of a five per...


No Defection Required: ADC Grants Peter Obi and El-Rufai Freedom to Stay with Current Parties
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 1, 2025 0

The newly established African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced that the Labour Party's presid...


22 Lives Lost Amid Protests Against Fuel Price Hike in Angola
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 1, 2025 0

Two days of violence and looting in Angola during a demonstration against a fuel price increase resu...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu