2024 Edo election: “…we are sure of reclaiming our stolen mandate”_ PDP as APC kick

The Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, has mocked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following their protest against the outcome of the recent governorship election in the state.

On Wednesday the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State expressed optimism that the party would reclaim its “stolen mandate” in the September 21 governorship election in the state. They said this when they led a protest to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office at Aduwawa to register their displeasure over the outcome of the governorship election.

The PDP leaders including the state chairman, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi; Campaign Council Director General, Mathew Iduoriyekemwen; and his deputy in charge of media and publicity, Rev. Olu Martins marched to the INEC office in Benin along with protesters who carried placards having multiple inscriptions on it.

They demanded that INEC should return the stolen mandate of Edo people in the last governorship election and announce its governorship candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, as the authentic winner of the election.

The protest disrupted vehicular movement for several hours at the Ramat Park axis of the busy Auchi-Benin expressway. In their hundreds, the protesters sang solidarity songs before the watchful eyes of the police, who were there to protect the INEC office.

Addressing the protesters, Aziegbemi said the rationale for the protest was to inform the world that INEC changed the result of the election, as PDP won the poll.

Azeigbeme called on INEC to do the needful by immediately declaring Ighodalo winner of the election. He alleged that INEC manipulated the results of some of the local governments.

He stated, “We thank you all for coming out today in a journey to reclaim the mandate stolen from us by the police and INEC as they subverted the will of Edo people.

“If we had lost this election in a free and fair contest, we would have congratulated them, but because they stole our mandate, we can’t congratulate them.

“Go and sleep as we are going to reclaim the mandate stolen from us, as we are calling on the judiciary to look at our submission and be truthful in their judgement when the time comes.

“This is Nigeria and we can’t be robbed of our victory, as we are sure of reclaiming our stolen mandate, as we will present overwhelming evidence.”

Reacting to this in an interview with ThePunch, Uwadiae-Igbinigie derided the opposition party leaders, saying no amount of protest would change the election result.

“The PDP can protest as much as they want but that cannot change the result of the election. They can only approach the tribunal with evidence if they think their mandate has been taken from them.

“Edo people, who do not want the continuation of a PDP government passed a referendum with their voter cards and gave the APC the mandate to govern the state from November 12,” he said.

The APC chieftain advised the PDP leaders not to waste their time calling on President Bola Tinubu and former Governor of Edo State, Senator Adam Oshiomhole to give them their mandate because they have nothing to do with it.

“It is not about calling on President Bola Tinubu and Senator Adams Oshiomhole to give their mandate back to them. The gentlemen have nothing to do with their mandate. They can approach the tribunal to ventilate their grievances,” he said.

Recall after the Edo elections, Okpebholo scored 291,667 votes to defeat the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who polled 247,274 votes.