Edo Gov’ship election was marred with disregard for rule of law – Gov Obaseki {DETAILED REPORT}

By KEMI KASUMU and OUR REPORTERS, Benin City

PDP and other opposition members, who had cried to the international community for help, were asked to cry less as Tinubu’s action in the South South state would be overlooked because he has already done their bidding of IMF/World Bank subsidy removal and naira devaluation and will so never do any wrong to them.

Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, says that the Saturday’s governorship election in the state was marred with disregard for processes and the rule of law.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Sunday September 22, 2024, had declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the election that was capable of being owned an exercise through which Edo people committed to produce a governor of their own, by their large turnout and peaceful conduct of selves.

The process was not to remain as peaceful as during the day when disruptions of collations, intimidations and prevention of key stakeholders from entering the collations centres were begin to be witnessed at the various Local Government Areas collations centres with thugs believed to be working for APC insisting the collations be taken to the state headquarters of INEC.

At the state headquarters, obviously, security agents were seen repeating what happened at the local governments level as they prevented parties’ agents, journalists and election observers from entering the collation centre at the INEC headquarters.

Investigations conducted by our reporters revealed that the insistence that collations be stopped at local government level and taken to INEC headquarters was to enable an overnight thumb-printing of ballots by APC agents in the three Etsako Local Government Areas to be accommodated and that Governor Obaseki’s effort to thwart that APC’s plot was frustrated by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Frank Mba, who had to order him out while condemning his presence in the centre.

It was further said that, instead of listening to why he was there, INEC rather gave a blanket condemnation of the governor hence APC leaders in Abuja and Tinubu 2027 all over the social media network started jubilation even when collations of results had not started.

The temerity that police had to order a governor with immunity out of the INEC headquarters was later blamed on tge presence of Presidency, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and other governors of the party who were in visibly in town.

They were said to have given “the security agents the confidence to disrespect the governor, while APC agents in collusion with INEC officials went on altering the original results uploaded on the iREV for the final announcement that all Tinubu (not Edo) lovers including President Bola Tinubu himself have been celebrating and dancing over,” Osa Ogbeide later added to what he earlier told our reporters on the street before finally taking his leave in Benin City.

According to the INEC announcement that becomes official and recognised by law, an end regardless of whether it was justified by the means, Senator Monday Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, who secured 247,274 and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party, who came a distant third with 22,761 votes.

PDP and other opposition members, who had cried to the international community for help, were asked to cry less as Tinubu’s action in the South South state would be overlooked because he has already done their bidding of IMF/World Bank subsidy removal and naira devaluation and will so never do any wrong to them.

Obaseki speaks

In a statewide broadcast Sunday night, Obaseki appealed to residents to remain calm over the election’s outcome and not resort to violence and destruction of property.

The governor also urged aggrieved persons to explore legal options to express their reactions, noting that peace and justice will always win over violence.

He said, “In the last few months, the various political parties have embarked on very rigorous campaigns to sell their respective candidates for the office of governor to the people of Edo State in an exercise which came to a climax yesterday with the gubernatorial election.

“The attractive thing about democracy is the power it bestows on the people to choose who governs them. Therefore, when this power is blatantly seized from the people, it is not just a tragedy but a travesty of democracy.

“Regrettably, the outcome of the September 21st governorship election appears to have daunted the spirit of many Edo people who feel powerless in the face of the brute force of the institutions that are supposed to protect them. It is, therefore, understandable that many people feel sad and aggrieved.

“But in the midst of this despair, I am urging all my fellow Edo citizens to maintain calm and not resort to violence and destruction of property in spite of this provocation.

“Peace and justice will always win in the end, and this is my prescription to all the good people of Edo State who feel vexed and violated at this time.”

Speaking further, Obaseki claimed that impunity and disregard for the electoral process was displayed during the election, which raises concerns for many election observers.

He added. “Clearly, it is obvious to the least discerning the amount of impunity and reckless disregard for processes and law that was displayed in this gubernatorial election.

“In a democracy, there are safeguards for addressing grievances, and we hope that those affected will seek resolution for this blatant disregard of law and process.

“With this in mind, I implore all Edo people to go about their lawful businesses and rest assured of the commitment of our government to your wellbeing and security.”