PDP, govs back Fintiri, insist Ighodalo won

The Peoples Democratic Party and its Governors Forum have expressed support for the Chairman of the Edo State Governorship Election National Campaign Council, Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, who stated that the PDP candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, clearly won the state governorship election.

On Sunday, Fintiri stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission should be held accountable for violating the Electoral Act.

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Monday Okpebholo,
is currently ahead in the results collation for the ongoing governorship election in the state.

He is followed by the PDP candidate, Ighodalo.

In a statement on Sunday, the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, responded by explaining that Fintiri presented results from the polling units showing Ighodalo in a clear lead.

Ologunagba claimed that this was before the state collation exercise being taken over by the APC, which allegedly conspired with some dishonest INEC and security officials to alter and replace the authentic results with falsified figures favouring the defeated APC candidate.

The statement read, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stands by the results of the Edo State governorship election as garnered by its polling agents across the state and echoed by the Chairman of the Edo PDP National Campaign Council, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State which indicate that the PDP candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, clearly won the election.

“The PDP asserts that the rush, venom and hauling of insults with which the All Progressives Congress (APC) attacked Governor Fintiri only confirms APC’s violent desperation to cover its manipulations and steal the mandate freely given to Dr. Asue Ighodalo by the people of Edo State as reflected in the genuine votes cast at the Polling Units.

“As Governor Fintiri presented, the results collated from the Polling Units have Asue Ighodalo in clear lead before the State collation exercise was hijacked by the APC which, in connivance of some unscrupulous INEC and security officials, engaged in blatant alteration and substitution of the genuine results with fabricated figures in favour of the defeated APC candidate.

“The PDP had on several occasions alerted Nigerians of this sinister plot by the APC which will be firmly resisted as the APC and its candidate Monday Okpebholo were thoroughly defeated in the election.”

The PDP spokesman warned that any attempt to alter the results of the governorship election and award victory to a defeated candidate will lead to serious repercussions.

The statement added, “The PDP in the strongest terms cautions the APC and INEC not to announce or declare any result that does not reflect the Will of the people as expressed at the Polling Units. Such will be a recipe for a huge crisis in the State as the people of Edo State will never allow their mandate in illegitimate hands.

“Our party again cautions INEC not to lose sight of the violent protest that trailed the criminal attempt by the former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Hudu Ari to alter the outcome of the 2023 governorship election in that state which nearly led to the death of some INEC officials.

“Any attempt to change the results of the Edo State governorship election and allocate victory to a defeated candidate will provoke worse consequences.”

In a related development, the PDP Governors Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, praised the people of Edo State for turning out in large numbers to fulfill their duty in choosing their governor for the next four years.

The PDP Governors Forum clarified that Fintiri only shared the results from a few local government areas that were already collated and available on the INEC IREV portal.

According to the forum this was intended to prevent manipulation by dishonest individuals and to protect the integrity of the election process.

The statement read in part, “We have no doubt that given the laudable achievements of the exiting governor, His Excellency Godwin Obaseki, and the qualities of our governorship candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the enlightened Edo electorate would have had no difficulty in making the right choice, particularly given the hardship that the APC Administration is spreading nationwide.

“We note with immense pride and satisfaction, the role being played by the PDP Governors, His Excellency Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, His Excellency Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas of Taraba State and His Excellency, the Rt. Hon. Sherif Francis Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State who have painstakingly monitored the exercise in accordance with the law and guided the electorate to remain calm and law abiding throughout the entire process.

“We are satisfied that our colleagues as led by His Excellency Governor Ahmadu Fintiri simply stated the results of a few local government areas as were already collated and captured on the INEC IREV portal, with a view to forestalling any manipulation by unscrupulous elements and, ultimately, averting a situation that could throw the exercise into disrepute and the nation into political jeopardy. Therefore, the public is advised to disregard the mischievous accusation by the APC that anyone usurped INEC’s responsibility, let alone distinguished Nigerians who are governors in their respective states.”

PDP-elected governors urged INEC to announce results that accurately reflect the wishes of the Edo people as expressed through their votes on Saturday.

It added, “As the process runs its course, we wish to remind the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of the need to live up to the oath of office of the Commission’s principal officers and the expectations of the people, to serve as an impartial umpire committed to deepening our multi party democracy and the survival of our country.

“As the country perches on the horns of grave economic and security challenges, it is our expectation that INEC and everyone involved in the Edo Governorship Elections will respect the sovereign wishes of the people of Edo State and spare the nation the unpredictable consequences of a disputed result at this time.

“This becomes more imperative, especially in the face of the threat to democracy by the total state capture inclination of the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress, APC government.

“The PDPGF unequivocally reiterates its commitment to democratic best practices, and the peace and stability of a united Nigeria in which the citizens are not only spared the contrived ordeal of the moment but, more importantly, provided alternative opportunities to realise their legitimate dreams.

“Finally, we stand with our Governors, H/E Fintiri, H/E Diri, H/E Agbu Kefas and H/E Oborevwori of Adamawa, Bayelsa, Taraba and Delta States respectively, on all the actions and positions that they have taken on our behalf, with respect to maintaining the sanctity of the elections.”