Members of the Labour Party in the House of Representatives on Wednesday rejected the outcome of Saturday’s Edo State governorship election which produced Monday Okpebholo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress as winner.
Okpebholo, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission Returning Officer, Prof Faruk Kuta, scored a total of 291,667 votes to beat Asue Ighodalo and Olumide Akpata of the Peoples Democratic Party and LP who polled 247,274 and 22,763 respectively.
Addressing journalists at the National Assembly Complex on Monday, House Deputy Minority Whip, George Ozodinobi, on behalf of other 32 lawmakers elected on the platform of LP, condemned the exercise, noting that the party’s candidate was rigged out.
He said, “The Labour Party presented the best candidate in the election, who was brazenly rigged out of the process. Our candidate, Olumide Akpata, a renowned legal professional and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, garnered significant support from the electorate but enemies of democracy thwarted his efforts and excellent standing in the election.
“It is on record that our leader and presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, campaigned vigorously for our gubernatorial candidate in every nook and cranny of the state.
“Of course, the whole world witnessed the massive crowd that the Obedient Movement pulled wherever he went during the campaign yet; Chief Akpata was allocated paltry votes in a state where LP just about a year and seven months ago, had one Senator and two House members. This is very grateful to the perpetrators of this crime.
“We are deeply concerned over the irregularities and alleged malpractices that marred the electoral process ranging from vote buying by the so-called big parties, intimidation of voters, mass thumb printing of ballot papers and pre-writing and alteration of election results, among others.”
Ozodinobi blamed INEC officials and security agents for the alleged election manipulation.
Peoplesmind