The PDP governorship candidate for Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has expressed deep concerns over the conduct of Saturday’s election, describing it as potentially the worst in Nigeria’s history.
Speaking during a PDP campaign council briefing on Channels TV, Ighodalo cited irregularities such as results surpassing the number of accredited voters at polling units.
He said, “From our perspective, the way these elections are going, they’re probably going to be the worst elections in the history of this country. We have information, for instance, where we have over 20 polling units, where the accredited voters are less than the total votes, which is not possible.”
Ighodalo also claimed that the APC, supported by individuals dressed as security personnel, had disrupted polling agents and engaged in violence, further stating, “This is not accepted in the 21st century and not in Nigeria.”
Governor Godwin Obaseki echoed Ighodalo’s concerns, reporting that PDP agents were blocked from participating in the collation process.
He criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for delaying the announcement of the postponement of the collation process, which led to increased tension at INEC’s state office in Benin.
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, also leading the PDP campaign council, highlighted that collation was violently disrupted in several local governments, with the process illegally moved to INEC’s head office under police instruction.
He also claimed that PDP agents were denied access to participate in the collation while APC agents had unfettered entry.
The PDP is now fighting to ensure fair collation, as Ighodalo seeks to succeed Governor Obaseki, whose term concludes on November 12.
