The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on its supporters in Edo State to vigilantly monitor the governorship election results to prevent any form of manipulation.
In a statement released on Saturday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that all results announced at polling units are transparently uploaded to the INEC server.
The party also emphasized the need for proper declaration of these results at the collation centers, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC guidelines for the Edo governorship election.
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The statement read in part: “The Peoples Democratic Party directs its members and supporters in Edo State to follow the results of the Edo State governorship election from the polling units to the ward, local government, and state collation centres to prevent any manipulation or alteration by the All Progressives Congress.
“Our party demands that INEC ensures that all results, as announced at the polling units, are transparently uploaded to the INEC server and duly declared at the collation centres in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC guidelines for the Edo State governorship election.
“The PDP counsels the APC to respect the will of the people of Edo State as expressed at the polling units. The PDP commends the people of Edo State for their resilience in enforcing their will at the polling units despite the schemes of the APC, and charges them to remain alert, ready to firmly defend their votes as they await the final result declaration heralding our victory.”
In a related development, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of INEC Presiding Officer, Obozuwa Josephine, for allegedly assigning fraudulent votes to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the PDP, the election result sheet for the Osholo Primary School Polling Unit in Weppa, Etsako East Local Government Area, shows that while only 213 voters were accredited, Obozuwa unlawfully allocated 352 votes to the APC, 52 to the PDP, and one to the Labour Party, amounting to a total of 406 votes cast.
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Ologunagba’s statement continued: “It is highly provocative that INEC’s Presiding Officer, Obozuwa Josephine, could be so compromised by the APC as to audaciously and feloniously allocate 352 votes to the APC, above the 213 voters officially accredited in that polling unit.
“This reckless act by Obozuwa Josephine is reminiscent of the criminal conduct of the former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Hudu Ari, during the 2023 governorship election in that state, which provoked violent protests and nearly led to the loss of lives of INEC officials.
“Obozuwa Josephine should note that this criminal action could provoke similar consequences.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asserts that Obozuwa Josephine’s actions are just one example of widespread electoral fraud, ballot manipulation, and a betrayal of public trust, allegedly orchestrated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the help of corrupt INEC officials. The party insists these acts are crimes against the state and must not go unpunished.
The PDP further reiterated its earlier warnings, accusing the APC of compromising the INEC system by appointing its members as polling officers to manipulate the election process and alter results in favor of the APC.
It continued: “The PDP demands that INEC effect the immediate arrest and prosecution of the indicted presiding officer, Obozuwa Josephine, cancel the election in Osholo Primary School Polling Unit, and take steps to address other such infractions in this election.
“Our party again commends the people of Edo State for their vigilance and urges them to remain resilient until the end.”
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