The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate for the 2024 Edo State governorship election, Asue Ighodaro, have filed a petition in court challenging the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This was disclosed by the Chairman of Edo State PDP, Anthony Agiegbemi, on Monday.
Addressing a press conference in Benin, the Edo State capital, Mr. Agiegbemi said the PDP intends to reclaim its stolen mandate, insisting that the court is certain to overturn the September 21 election results declared by INEC.
He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the election results and trying to delay a court order directing the PDP to inspect election materials at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Aduwawa. did.
The PDP Chairman said: “We have begun our journey to reclaim our national mandate and have filed a petition at the Edo State Electoral Tribunal. has been submitted. The mandate given to PDP will be taken back.
“We have established where the problem lies and the electoral tribunal will no doubt task us based on the overwhelming evidence.”
Mr. Agiegbemi said that while the PDP was busy gathering evidence to pursue the case in court, the APC and its chairman, Jarrett Tennebe, were lying and spreading falsehoods to fulfill the APC’s evil designs. .
He said, “While our party was busy gathering evidence for the petition, the APC and its chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, were busy spreading lies. He forgot that the process was in the interest of the PDP. They lied that the PDP was sabotaging the activities of the INEC office. Why should the PDP now be the party to sabotage a movement that is favorable to them?
“If APC really won the September 21st Edo State governorship election, why are they creating confusion and problems at the INEC office?They lie without thinking twice.
“Tenebe Jarrett and APC are stealing people’s phones and POS operators’ money. They were sabotaging the process because it wasn’t in their interest. If you won, why not? Do you have to fight hard to prevent others from inspecting the process? Are you stopping people to see how you won?”
He further said, “On September 24, 2024, I wrote a memo to the INEC National Headquarters in Abuja. The response from INEC will be shocking.
“They said in their reply that this provision of the electoral law is for internal purposes only and is not to be used by the party on the basis of declarations already made by outsiders, candidates or returning officers. ”
Mr Agiegbemi also claimed that some PDP members arrested by the police during the Edo period elections had to pay a total of N64 million before being granted bail.
“Before the elections, most of our members were arrested by a special unit of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja. They paid a total of about 64 million naira and the police announced that bail was free, so most of them You may want to draw attention to the fact that he was released.
“Even as we speak, they are planning to arrest more members just to keep us from uniting in pursuit of the cause. We have decided to hold weekly briefings to keep everyone informed about what is happening.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Edo State PDP Governorship Election Council, Matthew Iduoriekemwen, said: That is why we have taken steps to pursue the case to its logical conclusion. ”
