INEC dismisses PDP governors’ fraud claim on Edo election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has faulted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors’ fraud claim on the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

The governors had during the meeting held in Jos, Plateau State, on Saturday claimed that INEC tampered with results to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, who was declared the winner with 291,667 votes.

They also urged the judiciary and the National Assembly to strengthen the country’s electoral laws.

However, in a statement issued on Sunday, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, described the PDP governors’ claims as “unfortunate and inappropriate.”

He said INEC cannot comment on a matter that is before the court, citing sub judice.

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He also criticized the PDP governors for pursuing a “media trial,” and urged them to present their evidence in court rather than raising unsubstantiated claims in public.

Oyekanmi said: “Interestingly, it is the PDP that filed the petition at the tribunal to challenge the result of the Edo State governorship election that is now canvassing the same issues in the media. One would expect the party and its candidate to tender their evidence in court to prove the allegations detailed in their petition, rather than embark on media trial.”

He also described the November 16: governorship election in Ondo State as one of the best conducted by the commission.

“We do not claim it was a perfect election, but it was a good outing,” he concluded.

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