PDP Challenges Edo Election Outcome, Claims Manipulation In APC’s Okpebholo Victory

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly rejected the results of the recent Edo State governorship election, which declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner. Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, who received 247,274 votes, and Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata, who finished third with 22,763 votes.

Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, who chaired the PDP’s Edo State Governorship Election National Campaign Council, criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what he described as violations of the Electoral Act. According to Fintiri, results from polling units indicated that Ighodalo was in the lead before they were allegedly manipulated in favor of the APC. The PDP also claimed that results from several local government areas were altered to inflate APC votes.

PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba backed Fintiri’s claims, accusing APC of electoral manipulation and INEC of facilitating these irregularities. The party has called on INEC to reflect the actual will of the people, with PDP’s state agent, Iyoha Osaigbovo, stating that the APC’s victory was a misrepresentation of the electorate’s wishes.

In response, the APC, led by Edo State Acting Chairman Jarrett Tenebe, dismissed the PDP’s accusations, emphasizing that Edo North, a stronghold of the APC, supported Okpebholo’s victory. Tenebe urged the PDP to address its grievances through official channels, not by targeting the APC.

Amidst the tension, youths affiliated with the PDP staged protests in Benin City, alleging vote tampering. The PDP has hinted at legal action and is awaiting a response to a letter of protest sent to INEC.

Meanwhile, Senator Okpebholo has promised to serve Edo State faithfully, drawing inspiration from Senator Godswill Akpabio’s tenure in Akwa Ibom. Both President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated Okpebholo, with Tinubu urging him to unite the state and serve all citizens, while Buhari encouraged both winners and losers to work together for the state’s development.