The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) announced on Monday that it has officially filed a petition at the tribunal, challenging the conduct of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state. This was disclosed by the party’s State Chairman, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, during a press conference held in Benin City.
Aziegbemi stated that the petition was submitted by the party’s governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, and highlights concerns regarding alleged irregularities involving the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He accused both the APC and INEC of working together to obstruct the PDP from accessing and inspecting electoral materials, which was critical for their legal challenge.
According to Aziegbemi, despite a tribunal order granting the PDP the right to inspect the electoral materials used in the election, the party was denied access. This obstruction, he claimed, was part of a broader strategy by the APC and INEC to prevent the PDP from gathering necessary evidence to support their case.
During the press briefing, Aziegbemi expressed the party’s commitment to pursuing justice through the tribunal. He reiterated that the PDP is determined to ensure that the alleged manipulations that took place during the election are exposed, and that the will of the people of Edo State is respected.
He concluded by welcoming attendees to the press conference, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in the electoral process, and reaffirming the party’s resolve to fight for the rightful outcome in court.
“We know many of you and indeed Edolites would have been wondering why we have not engaged you after the saddest day in the history of Edo State.
“The Stealing of your mandate and right to freely choose who will govern you in the next 4 years after the spectacular performance of our amiable Governor Godwin Obaseki.
“First, let me on behalf of the PDP express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all Edolites that came out en masse on the 21st of September, 2024 to cast your votes for the PDP despite the unprecedented militarization and financial inducement by the APC.
“We are here to let you know that your vote will eventually count. You stared at the barrel of the gun, took their (our) money (in most cases fifteen thousand per vote) and you voted for the PDP.”
“The unthinkable then happened. Your votes were discarded. You were violated, they thought that they can silence your choice. That will not happen. We are going to be with you all the way.”
“We have filled our petition before the Election Tribunal on behalf of those that voted for our candidate. I assure you that the journey to reclaim our mandate has begun and by the grace of God, your mandate will be returned.”
“That PDP is disrupting the inspection of materials at INEC Office. In whose interest is the disruption? We applied to the court for inspection, the court granted us an enrolled order to inspect. Why would we want to disrupt the process?, he queried.
He, however, alleged that the party’s intelligence unit have uncovered plans by the APC to burn INEC office, noting that they are alerting the security agencies of the plan.
He, also alleged that in spite of INEC’s feeble attempt to deny the party’s full complements of its request for Certified True Copy, CTC, of all Electoral materials, being the suspected political wing of the APC, they were still able to do the needful by filing the petition at the tribunal.
On his part, Director General (DG) Asue Ogie Campaign Management Committee, Mathew Iduoriyekemwen said the PDP has taken the matter before a competent election tribunal for its to get back the mandate given free by the people to the PDP and Asue Ighodalo.
Iduoriyekemwen urged PDP members and supporters not to give up as their stolen mandate will be recovered in no distance time in the course of the struggle to reclaim the stolen mandate.
