Press conference by the acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), @OfficialPDPNig Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum on the unacceptable outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State

Gentlemen of the press,

It is with deep sense of burden and serious concern for our democracy and political stability of our dear nation that I address you today.

From unfolding political events in the country, the latest being the brazen rigging of the Saturday, September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election by the All Progressives Congress (APC) @OfficialAPCNg in connivance with government-controlled agencies, it is clear that our democracy is under threat.

As you know and widely reported in all segments of the media, the 2024 Edo State governorship election was barefacedly compromised by the APC in collusion with unpatriotic security operatives and heavily procured officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), @inecnigeria, who viciously trampled on the votes of the people in defiance of the law and total disregard to the sovereign will of the people of Edo State.

You may recall that the PDP had on several occasions alerted of this sinister plot by the APC to subvert the election, the roles allegedly being played by AIG Zone 7, Benneth Igwe and Edo State Commissioner of Police @PoliceNG CP Nemo Edwin-Iwo and the appointment of a known APC apologist and supporter, Dr Anugbum Onuoha, as the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

Several demands by our party for the redeployment of these officials, as well as the release of all arrested PDP members and supporters, fell on deaf ears and tend to validate PDP’s suspicion of a top-level conspiracy to rig the Edo State governorship election.

Nigerians and the world watched in horror as the APC-compromised security operatives and thugs unleashed terror, harassed, arrested, and detained PDP members and supporters, foisted siege mentality on the people and paved the way for APC agents and procured INEC officials to manipulate the ballot process, substitute genuine results from the polling units with fictitious figures and transferred the victory clearly won by our candidate, Asue Ighodalo to the defeated APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo.

As Nigerians already know, despite the violence, intimidation and manipulations by the APC, results obtained from the polling units show that our candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, clearly won the election before the figures were altered at the state collation exercise in favour of the defeated APC candidate.

The PDP, therefore, unequivocally rejects the final result of the Edo State governorship election as declared by INEC, as it did not meet the minimum standard for democracy, having not reflected the expressed will and aspiration of the people in line with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and INEC guidelines for state governorship election.

The PDP demands that INEC, within the time stipulated by section 65 of the Electoral Act, 2022, review the Edo State governorship election and announce results only as obtained from the genuine votes cast at the polling units.

The PDP calls on all Nigerians and lovers of democracy all over the world to stand up in solidarity with the people of Edo State in rejecting this assault on the democratic rights of the people as witnessed in the Edo State governorship election.

The people of Edo State clearly chose Dr Asue Ighodalo as the next governor of their State, and only their will, as expressed at the polling units must be allowed to stand.

The PDP charges the people of Edo State to remain resolute and undeterred as our party takes sure and firm steps to retrieve the mandate with every means legal and available in a democracy.

Thank you for listening.