The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed its resolve to contest the outcome of the recent Edo State governorship election in court. On Sunday, the party declared that it would initiate legal proceedings to challenge the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The PDP maintains that its candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, was the legitimate winner of the election based on polling unit results from across the state.
In the aftermath of the election, PDP officials have accused INEC of overseeing a compromised electoral process, filled with irregularities that significantly affected the outcome of the election. The party asserts that the manipulation of the electoral process is grounds for disputing the results. The PDP leadership remains firm in its belief that the announced results do not reflect the true will of the people of Edo State.
In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, confirmed the party’s commitment to challenging the results through legal means. He emphasized that the party remains dedicated to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served. According to Ologunagba, PDP officials, alongside a team of legal experts, are carefully scrutinizing the election results and are prepared to take appropriate legal actions in the coming days.
“We are a party that believes in law and order,” Ologunagba remarked during the interview. “Unlike the APC, we don’t resort to self-help. We are committed to the legal process and have confidence that justice will ultimately prevail. The APC has compromised important democratic institutions, including INEC and the police, but we remain firm in our conviction that the true will of the people will be upheld.”
He went on to explain that the PDP’s legal team is working diligently to review all available evidence, including the results announced by INEC. In his view, the discrepancies in the electoral process are too significant to be ignored, and the party is confident that the legal challenge will yield favorable results.
“Our team of lawyers and party officials are currently reviewing all the necessary information and results,” he said. “In the next few days, we will release our official position on the matter. The actions we will take will reflect our dedication to the rule of law and the democratic process.”
Ologunagba also voiced concerns about the current state of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, particularly the perceived lack of independence of INEC. He expressed frustration with the electoral body, accusing it of failing to adhere to its own rules and regulations, which has led to widespread distrust in the election process.
“The problem with our democracy is rooted in the weakness of our institutions,” Ologunagba stated. “INEC, which is supposed to be an independent electoral body, has compromised itself by not following its own rules. This is a grave issue for the future of our democracy, but despite these frustrations, we remain committed to the legal process.”
He reiterated that the PDP is steadfast in its belief that the rule of law will prevail, and that the legal challenge to the Edo governorship election will restore faith in the electoral process. Ologunagba concluded by assuring that the party will continue to pursue justice for the people of Edo State, and that its legal efforts will reflect the will of the electorate.