Phebe Falodun
This is as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has filed a petition against the conduct and declaration of the September 21 Governorship Election in Edo by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The PDP party chairman in the state, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, said this while addressing journalists on Monday in Benin City, the Edo.
According to him, inspite of antics of the All Progressives Congress and INEC to frustrate the PDP, the party successfully filed the petition.
He noted that the issues they faced were in the course of the party enforcing a court order, which granted PDP request for inspection of materials used in the election.
Aziegbemi expressed optimism that the election petition Tribunal would dispense justice in the petition and described the outcome of the election as the “Darkness Day of Edo State”.
He said: “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.
“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 in spite of the unprecedented militarisation and financial inducement by the APC.”
Aziegbemi added: “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 voted for the PDP.
“The unthinkable then happened, Your votes were discarded. You were violated, they thought that they could silence your choice. That will not happen. We are going to be with you all the way.
“We have filed our petition before the Election Tribunal on your behalf. I assure you that the journey to reclaim our mandate has begun and by the grace of God, your mandate will be returned,” he said.
While the APC won the governorship election in the state, the PDP has continued to dispute the claim alleging foul play and rigging.
Although some civil society organisations have also noted that the election was fraught with irregularities, the ruling APC has denied any wrongdoing.
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