Hours after the governorship election in Edo State was concluded, the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State chapter has rejected the outcome of the poll, describing it as another rape on democracy, Thegazellenews.com reports.
Thegazellenews.com reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission, on Sunday, 22 September, 2024 declared Monday Okpebholo, the governorship candidate of the APC as the winner of the keenly contested election.
He polled 291,667 votes to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, who secured 247,274 and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party, who came a distant third with 22,761 votes.
In a statement issued on Monday, 23 September, 2024 by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity of the PDP Campaign Organisation, Ayo Fadaka, described the development as another rape of democracy in Nigeria.
Fadaka said the election result was a total disregard for the electoral desires of the people as validly expressed through the ballot.
“The Edo State Governorship Election results represent another rape on democracy in Nigeria and for the umpteenth time, we declare that this is absolutely condemnable, as it betrays a total disregard for the electoral desires of the people as validly expressed through the ballot.
“Nigerians are not fooled by the officially declared result by INEC, they know that PDP won that election and this is a shame on those who sit atop our affairs. It is disappointing that INEC could disregard the electoral law by shifting the collation of votes in the designated local government collation centres to its headquarters in Benin, this is expressly against the electoral law.
“In Ondo State, we have taken due cognisance of these dastardly acts committed by agencies saddled with the responsibilities to provide level playing grounds, and sadly failed to live up to expectations, it is a shameful act that lowers the status and respect due to Nigeria in the committee of nations,” the party said in the statement made available to media houses.
It noted that the PDP in Ondo had prepared to ensure that rules were followed in the November 16 governorship election.
“We need to underscore that we will not acquiesce or take kindly to any act geared towards compromising votes in our election. We state emphatically for all to see and hear that Ondo is not Edo, our attitude, understanding and patience differ, we will vote and protect our vote here. We are resolved to give everything to ensure that the electoral desires of our people will command attention and attain the desired goals.
“As they say, politics is local, in Ondo State, the people are already protesting against the hardship imposed on them by the APC government, they are protesting against hunger, lack and want, Ondo State people are protesting against the high inflationary trend that has denied them not only the future but even the present!
“In Ondo State, we are already protesting against a Party, the APC and a government that has institutionalised hardship, penury and poverty and our protest day is the 16th of November, we thus sound a note of warning to those whose trade is the compromise of ballot that danger looms if they seek to tamper with our votes,” the statement read.
