The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lashed out at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian Police, accusing them of complicity in the just-concluded Edo State governorship election.
The PDP also condemned the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, for his gloating remarks on the poll.
In a statement released on Monday by Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, Ondo PDP State Publicity Secretary, the party claimed that the 21st September 2024 election was nothing short of a “sham” orchestrated by INEC under the leadership of Prof Mahmood Yakubu.
The opposition party described the exercise as a blatant subversion of the will of the people of Edo State.
Ganduje, who flew into Benin on a police helicopter to oversee the poll, reportedly boasted that the outcome of the Edo election would be repeated in Ondo and Anambra States when their governorship elections hold in the coming months.
The PDP said Ganduje’s utterances were an open confirmation that the Edo election had been rigged.
“His vituperations were the surest confirmation that the election was rigged. Instead of being sober for subverting the will of the people, Ganduje rubbed salt into the wound by stating that his party intends to control all five South-Eastern States,” the party’s statement read.
The Ondo PDP took the opportunity to remind the APC chieftain that their state was not a pushover, citing historical instances where the people of Ondo resisted attempts to subvert their will.
“When the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) attempted to impose its will, the people stood firm. That tradition lives on,” the statement added.
The party also saluted the courage of the people of Edo State for standing their ground despite INEC’s alleged manipulation. The PDP accused INEC of doctoring results at the State Collation Centre, claiming the figures differed from those uploaded on the electoral body’s IRev portal.
“Everyone knows that most of the results announced were fabricated. Edo people would never have elected a man who promised to bring insecurity to their state,” the statement concluded.
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