The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has stated that its mandate was tolen in the recent governorship election held last Saturday.
At a press conference on Wednesday in Benin City, Olu Martins, the deputy director general of the Asue-Ogie Governorship Campaign Council, asserted that the party was already celebrating its victory before the election results were altered.
Martins stated that, based on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) release of 95% of the election results, the PDP was leading with a margin of over 45,000 votes.
“We were already jubilating because by the time the result of the election got to 95 per cent, you know where you have won or not,” he said.
He noted that even if the remaining 5% favoured the All Progressives Congress (APC), the PDP would have emerged victorious.
However, Martins claimed that upon reaching the collation centre, the atmosphere changed drastically as police allegedly warned party agents to leave.
He described the electoral contest as one not merely between the PDP and APC, but rather a battle against the Nigeria Police and INEC, which he accused of colluding to undermine the democratic process.
“APC is not celebrating their ‘illegal mandate,” he stated, calling it “the worst election INEC has ever conducted in Nigeria.”
Martins criticized the electoral process, noting the role of the IREV (Results Viewing Portal) and the importance of Form EC8, which records results from over 4,000 polling units.
He argued that the discrepancies between the posted results and those announced by INEC indicate foul play.
“When the APC saw that they were losing, they moved to Plan B,” he alleged, lamenting that it would be impossible to rig an election without the active complicity of INEC and security agents.
He recounted instances where police allegedly pointed guns at PDP agents and obstructed them from entering the collation centre while allowing APC representatives free access.
Martins accused the president of fostering a one-party state, asserting that the current political climate reflects an effort to return Edo State to APC control.
“The police did what they have done in the defence of the president’s statement,” he claimed.
He assured supporters that the party is reviewing the results and plans to take legal action.
“We are studying the situation, and in a few days our leadership will tell us the line of action,” he concluded.
