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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and the national leadership of the party have asserted that Asue Ighodalo, their candidate in Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, is the clear winner, based on results collected by the party’s agents across the state.

This comes as governors elected under the major opposition party expressed their support for Ahmadu Fintiri’s stance on the already collated results from some local government areas in the Edo State governorship election, before the suspension of the exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

They urged the electoral body to respect the sovereign will of the people for the sake of democracy’s survival.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the PDP Governors Forum (PDP GF), the governors urged the electoral body to spare the nation the unpredictable consequences of a disputed result at this time.

“This becomes more imperative, especially in the face of the threat to democracy by the total state capture inclination of the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government,” the forum declared.

The statement also noted that the Adamawa State governor, who chairs the PDP Edo State Governorship Campaign Council, merely presented the results on INEC’s IREV to prevent the manipulation of the suspended collation.

Signed by its chairman and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, the forum also expressed satisfaction with other PDP governors who monitored the exercise in accordance with the law

The governors advised INEC officials to honor their oath as impartial electoral arbiters to ensure the survival of the nation’s democracy.

The forum stated: “We note with immense pride and satisfaction the role played by PDP Governors, including His Excellency Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, His Excellency Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, and His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State, who have painstakingly monitored the exercise in accordance with the law and guided the electorate to remain calm and law-abiding throughout the entire process.

“We are satisfied that our colleagues, led by His Excellency Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, merely stated the results of a few local government areas that were already collated and recorded on the INEC IREV portal, aiming to prevent manipulation by unscrupulous elements and, ultimately, avert a situation that could discredit the exercise and endanger the nation politically.

“Therefore, the public is advised to disregard the baseless accusations made by the APC that anyone usurped INEC’s responsibilities, particularly the distinguished governors serving in their respective states.

“As the process continues, we remind the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its obligation to honor the oath of office taken by its principal officers and meet the expectations of the public. INEC must serve as an impartial umpire committed to strengthening our multi-party democracy and ensuring the survival of our country.

“Amid the grave economic and security challenges facing the nation, we expect INEC and everyone involved in the Edo Governorship Elections to respect the sovereign will of the Edo State people and spare the nation the unpredictable consequences of a disputed result at this time. This becomes even more urgent, given the threat to democracy posed by the total state capture inclination of the Tinubu-led APC government.

“The PDPGF unequivocally reiterates its commitment to democratic best practices, as well as the peace and stability of a united Nigeria, where citizens are not only spared the contrived ordeals of the moment but are also provided with opportunities to realize their legitimate dreams.

“We anticipate the announcement of a result that truly represents the wishes of the Edo people as freely expressed through their votes yesterday.

“Finally, we stand with our Governors—His Excellency Fintiri, His Excellency Diri, His Excellency Agbu Kefas, and His Excellency Oborevwori of Adamawa, Bayelsa, Taraba, and Delta States respectively—regarding all actions and positions they have taken on our behalf, to maintain the sanctity of the elections.”

While commending the people of Edo State for turning out in large numbers to vote in Saturday’s exercise to choose their next leaders, the statement praised the quality of service provided by Governor Godwin Obaseki over nearly eight years, as well as the qualities of their governorship candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, which the forum said would have made it easier for the enlightened Edo electorate to make the right choice, especially given the hardship that the APC administration is spreading nationwide.

In a separate statement, the national leadership of the main opposition party maintained that its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, clearly won the Edo State election based on the results gathered by its polling agents across the state.

Issued on Sunday by Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary, the statement asserted that “the rush, venom, and insults with which the All Progressives Congress (APC) attacked Governor Fintiri only confirm the APC’s violent desperation to cover up its manipulations and steal the mandate freely given to Dr. Asue Ighodalo by the people of Edo State, as reflected in the genuine votes cast at the polling units.”

It stated: “As Governor Fintiri presented, the results collated from the polling units show Asue Ighodalo in a clear lead before the state collation exercise was hijacked by the APC, which, in connivance with some unscrupulous INEC and security officials, engaged in blatant alteration and substitution of the genuine results with fabricated figures in favor of the defeated APC candidate.”

The PDP recalled that it had repeatedly alerted Nigerians to this sinister plot by the APC, which will be firmly resisted, as the APC and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo, were thoroughly defeated in the election.

The statement added: “The PDP strongly cautions the APC and INEC against announcing or declaring any result that does not reflect the will of the people as expressed at the polling units. Doing so would be a recipe for a major crisis in the state, as the people of Edo State will never allow their mandate to fall into illegitimate hands.

“Our party again cautions INEC not to forget the violent protest that followed the criminal attempt by the former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Hudu Ari, to alter the outcome of the 2023 Governorship election in that state, which nearly led to the death of some INEC officials.

“Any attempt to alter the results of the Edo State governorship election and allocate victory to a defeated candidate will provoke even worse consequences.

“INEC must, therefore, do what is right in the interest of peace, stability, and the preservation of democracy in Nigeria.”