Supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State on Wednesday staged a protest at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Benin City over the recently announced results of the September 21, 2024 governorship election. I asked for a reversal.
Demonstrators holding placards and wearing PDP insignia claimed that the party’s candidate Asue Ighodalo won the election and not Monday Okpeboro of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as declared by INEC. .
Naija News reports that the protesters called on the Electoral Commission to return the mandate, claiming it belonged to the PDP candidate.
INEC announced that Mr. Okpebolo, 54, received 291,667 votes, defeating Mr. Ighodaro who received 247,274 votes. Olumide Akpata of the Labor Party (LP) came third with 22,763 votes, while the other 14 candidates received significantly fewer votes.
Mr. Ighodalo, along with Mr. Akpata, have denied the election results, alleging widespread vote-buying by the APC, an allegation categorically denied by the ruling party.
The PDP candidate vowed to challenge the poll results in court, seeking justice for what he described as an unfair process.
The protests reflect rising tensions in Edo State following the gubernatorial election, as political parties and their supporters await next steps in what could be a lengthy legal battle.
