Asue Ighodalo, the candidate representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Edo Governorship Election held on September 21, has vehemently denied any involvement in vote-buying activities during the electoral process. In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ighodalo explained the circumstances surrounding the election, which ultimately concluded with the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, winning through a reported margin. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) verified this result on the subsequent Sunday, with Okpebholo receiving 291,667 votes, while Ighodalo secured 247,274 votes, and Labour Party candidate Olumide Akpata garnered 22,761 votes.
Ighodalo articulated serious allegations against the APC, claiming that they engaged in blatant vote-buying practices during the election. He stated that APC operatives were distributing freshly minted currency notes, ranging from N10,000 to N50,000, to manipulate electoral outcomes. According to him, while the APC’s actions aimed to undermine the electoral integrity, PDP members actively opposed such practices, asserting their commitment to maintaining fair electoral conduct. “What our guys did was harass them and tell them that you can’t come here to buy votes,” Ighodalo stressed, highlighting his party’s stance against corruption in the electoral process.
The PDP candidate’s remarks also extended to criticizing the role of INEC, which he accused of colluding with the APC to compromise the election’s democratic integrity. He expressed belief that the APC’s reliance on unethical tactics stemmed from a lack of faith in their own electoral strength. Ighodalo stated, “It’s only when you’re not sure of your capability you cannot perform. That’s when you do underhand things,” pointing to what he characterized as a systemic failure to uphold democratic principles during the election.
As for the outcome of the election and the ensuing declaration of results, INEC presented Governor-Elect Okpebholo and his Deputy, Dennis Idahosa, with Certificates of Return five days post-election. This formal acknowledgment of their victory further solidified the APC’s hold on political power in Edo State, despite Ighodalo’s claims and the tensions expressed during his interview. He proposed that such activities not only disenfranchised voters but also signaled a broader threat to democracy in the region.
Responding to questions about whether he would accept cooperative overtures from the newly elected governor, Ighodalo clearly rejected the notion, categorizing the mandate received by the APC as “stolen.” He expressed his determination to fight the perceived injustices through legal channels, emphasizing his commitment to the people of Edo State who, he asserted, had bestowed their trust in him. “I will stay with the people of Edo State, who fully gave me the mandate of their free will,” he declared, outlining his intention to seek judicial remedies to reclaim what he considered the rightful governance.
Ighodalo’s stance reflects deep-seated tensions prevalent in the political landscape of Edo State following the election. His commitment to pursuing judicial recourse underscores the sense of disenfranchisement felt among his supporters. As the PDP mobilizes its efforts to challenge the election results on legal grounds, the implications of this electoral fallout raise critical questions surrounding electoral integrity, political accountability, and the broader health of democracy in Nigeria. These developments highlight an ongoing narrative of struggle for political legitimacy, raising essential discussions about electoral reforms and the future of governance in the region.
