Edo election: PDP supporters reject result, allege manipulation

The result of the Edo State governorship election held on Saturday, September 21, 2024, has been revolted by members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

According to Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) correspondent, PDP supporters in the State took to the street to orchestrate a protest on Sunday, September 22, against the compilation of the election results in Benin City, the state capital.

The demonstration occurred near the headquarter of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), where the results were being compiled.

Meanwhile, as of Sunday, the All Progressive Congress (APC) was leading in 11 of the 16 Local Governments (LGs) announced so far.

Notably, one of PDP agents, Mr. Tony Iyoha, who was at the collation center, expressed his pains, claiming that some result were fabricated.

“This has been one of the problems we are facing as Nigerians.

“We go out as an electorate to exercise our voting rights, and at the end of the day, you come out with fabricated results,” Iyoha said.

Also, in the early hours of September 21, Yiaga Africa, a non-profit Civic tech organization focused on promoting democratic governance, human rights, and civic engagement in Africa and PDP alerted authorities over the interruption in the compilation process.

They stressed that the compilation of the results from the various LGs of the state at the local electoral commission headquarter breached the instituted process of results compilation.

They claimed that the original preceding results submitted on INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) from some polling units showed that the PDP candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, and that of APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo, were in close contest.

Additionally, reports showed that security agents were said to have driven out observers and agents of the political parties from the venue of collation in Benin.

The said reports energised accusations that there were attempt to influence the results.

Speaking on Arise News Television channel, Mr. Osarodion Ogie, the PDP deputy governorship candidate, alleged that PDP agents were not permitted to come into the collation center.

Ogie also revealed that an Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police delayed the collation at the LGs and directed the movement of all the results to the electoral commission office in Benin.

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