The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to challenge the results of the Edo State governorship election in court, following the declaration of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The PDP claims its mandate was “stolen” and is determined to retrieve it through legal means.
The party’s acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, made this announcement during a press briefing in Abuja.
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He urged the people of Edo State to remain steadfast, assuring them that the party would take all necessary legal steps to reclaim the mandate.
This development comes as civil society organizations, including Yiaga Africa, criticized the election, stating that it failed to meet integrity standards.
Similarly, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) called on INEC to review discrepancies in the uploads to its IReV portal.
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Labour Party (LP) candidate, Mr. Olumide Akpata, also condemned the election, calling it a “transaction” and a “democratic sacrilege” perpetrated by both the APC and PDP.
He revealed that the election results are being subjected to forensic analysis by his legal team, and the findings will guide his next course of action.
INEC had declared Okpebholo governor-elect after he secured 291,667 votes, defeating PDP’s Dr. Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 247,566 votes, and Akpata, who received 22,763 votes.
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Meanwhile, Okpebholo has received numerous congratulatory messages from the Federal Executive Council (FEC), state governors, and other stakeholders.
