The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Edo Governorship Election, Asue Ighodalo, vehemently denied allegations of his party’s involvement in vote buying during the contested election held on September 21.
Ighodalo made these remarks during a recent appearance on a political program, asserting that the PDP maintained its integrity despite accusations. The election results, announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), revealed that Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged victorious, securing 291,667 votes compared to the PDP’s 247,274 votes and the Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata, who garnered 22,761 votes.
On Thursday, INEC’s National Commissioner for Edo State, Rhoda Gumus, officially presented the Certificates of Return to Governor-Elect Okpebholo and his Deputy, Dennis Idahosa, five days post-election.
Ighodalo accused the APC of engaging in vote buying, claiming that their agents offered cash bribes ranging from N10,000 to N50,000 in newly minted notes to sway voters. He emphasized that PDP representatives actively discouraged these actions, stating, “We were not involved in vote buying at all… Our guys harassed them, insisting that you can’t come here to buy votes.”
He further expressed confidence in his party’s support among the people of Edo State, claiming that resorting to vote buying indicates a lack of confidence in one’s ability to win fairly. Ighodalo criticized the election process, alleging that the APC, with INEC’s complicity, undermined the democratic framework.
Addressing queries about collaborating with the incoming administration, Ighodalo firmly stated that he could not accept any overtures from the Governor-elect, labeling the election outcome as stolen. “I will stay with the people of Edo State, who fully gave me the mandate… I will go into the courts and the Tribunal to reclaim our mandate and form the government,” he pledged.
