Dr. Bright Enabulele, the governorship candidate for the Accord Party (AP) in the recent Edo State elections, has announced that he is challenging the results at the Election Tribunal.
He alleges that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) committed fraud to favor the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, who was declared the winner.
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Enabulele claims that the election results were manipulated, citing his experience at Ward 5, St. Saviour Ivbiyeneva Primary School Unit 1 in the Ikpoba/Okha local government area, where he cast his vote on live television but was officially recorded as receiving zero votes.
Speaking to journalists in Benin City after his legal team submitted a petition to the tribunal, Enabulele expressed his desire for the tribunal to either declare him the winner of the election or annul the entire process and order a fresh election.
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He cited “fraud, intimidation, and the deliberate announcement of incorrect results by INEC” as his reasons for the challenge.
While he acknowledged he has no personal grievances against the declared winner, he criticized the electoral process that led to the results.
“The case is against two parties: the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that conducted the election and the APC candidate who was declared the winner. My mandate was stolen due to fraud, intimidation, and the wrong announcement of results,” he stated.
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Enabulele also opposed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) obtaining a court order to inspect the BIVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System), arguing that BIVAS should be preserved as evidence in court rather than being inspected, which he believes could lead to tampering.
“I was informed that the PDP obtained a court order to inspect BIVAS, but I find that wrong. No one should have access to the BIVAS, as it is meant to serve as evidence in court. You cannot go to court without evidence. It’s not just about winning or losing; it’s about ensuring that the will of the people prevails. Democracy is about the will of the people,” he concluded.
