The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised an alarm over an alleged plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to disrupt the collation process of the Edo State governorship election.
According to the PDP, the APC is planning to use armed thugs to invade the collation centers and manipulate results in favor of its candidate.
In a press statement signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party claimed that its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, is currently in a “clear lead” based on authentic results from the polling units. The party warned that any attempt to alter these results would have dire consequences.
“Intelligence available to the PDP indicates that the APC is mounting pressure on the INEC Chairman and the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to suspend the collation process. This is part of a larger plan to manipulate the INEC portal and replace the real results from the units with fabricated figures in favor of the APC,” the statement read.
The PDP further accused the APC of pressuring the military to withdraw from their posts, thereby allowing APC thugs to disrupt the collation process. Ologunagba urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the military to resist any pressure to compromise the integrity of the election.
“Our party cautions INEC and the APC to note that the people of Edo State already have authentic results from the polling units across the state. Any attempt by anyone to alter the results will inflame the already charged situation, with severe consequences for the perpetrators,” Ologunagba warned.
The statement referenced the near-violent aftermath of the 2023 Adamawa governorship election, where attempts to alter the results almost led to the death of INEC officials. The PDP cautioned that similar consequences could arise in Edo if the will of the people is tampered with.
“The people of Edo State have indicated their readiness to use every means allowed in a democracy, including legitimate physical confrontation if necessary, to protect their votes,” Ologunagba added.
The PDP also commended the military for its professionalism in ensuring a peaceful election process thus far and urged them not to succumb to any external pressure to abandon their posts. The party called on Edo citizens to remain vigilant at the collation centers to safeguard the electoral process.
The PDP’s statement comes as tensions rise in the final stages of the Edo State governorship election, with the collation of results still ongoing.
