FIJ Investigation Exposes How Edo Governorship Election Was Rigged For APC

The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) has released a critical report exposing alleged manipulation in the Edo State governorship election of September 21, 2024, aimed at securing victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo.

The investigation highlights significant irregularities, including voter suppression, violence, and the falsification of election results, which were allegedly orchestrated by APC leaders in collaboration with officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies.

The report centers on alleged misconduct in Etsako West Local Government Area, the stronghold of former Edo State Governor and APC leader, Senator Adams Oshiomole.

In this area, the APC was declared to have won 32,107 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured 17,483 votes.

Read Also: Edo Election Tribunal Relocates To Abuja

The PDP later obtained a “Replacement Copy” of the collation results from this area, which lacked the official INEC stamp found on other LGAs’ documents.

The investigation also highlights a violent disruption of the collation process at the Auchi Council Hall, where gunfire broke out, leading to the shooting of Benji Ojietu, the deputy chairman of the local government.

Ojietu later accused the police of being responsible for the attack, which resulted in the loss of key electoral materials.

The FIJ report implicates high-ranking APC figures, including Dennis Idahosa, now the deputy governor of Edo State, who is accused of coordinating voter suppression in PDP strongholds and influencing INEC officials to manipulate results.

Another APC leader, Nosa Adams, is accused of playing a key role in altering election outcomes in his favor. Both men are said to have used their political power to undermine the electoral process.

The investigation also raises concerns about INEC’s role in the election.

Despite the mandatory use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for electronic transmission of results, many polling units reportedly failed to use the system, with results instead being collated manually—creating opportunities for manipulation.

Additionally, INEC is accused of withholding access to critical election materials, despite court orders to release them, hindering the PDP’s efforts to challenge the results.

Other areas flagged for irregularities include Ikpoba Okha’s Oregbeni ward, where results were inexplicably canceled despite 10,928 voters being accredited.

Reports of over-voting, where the total votes cast exceeded the number of accredited voters, further raise doubts about the validity of the results.

The report also alleges that violence was used strategically in PDP strongholds, with armed thugs intimidating voters, disrupting polling units, and snatching ballot boxes, all seemingly with the approval of security forces.

Asue Ighodalo, the PDP’s governorship candidate, described the election as “the worst elections in the history of this country,” accusing both INEC and the police of colluding with a political party to rig the election.

The PDP has since filed a legal petition contesting the election results, citing non-compliance with the Electoral Act and widespread irregularities.

FIJ’s report provides further evidence supporting these claims, highlighting systemic issues that undermined the election’s credibility.

The findings from the FIJ investigation add significant weight to the ongoing legal battle over the Edo State election, potentially serving as a critical test for Nigeria’s commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections.

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