The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has responded to accusations from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors regarding alleged manipulation during the Edo State governorship election, held on September 21, 2024.
During a two-day meeting in Jos, Plateau State, the PDP governors publicly expressed concerns that electoral irregularities had denied their candidate a victory in Edo State. They further accused INEC of engaging in vote-buying practices in the recently concluded Ondo State election. According to the PDP, INEC altered the results of the Edo election to favor the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). In addition, they urged both the judiciary and lawmakers to strengthen electoral laws to prevent what they termed the “institutional sabotage” of the people’s will.
In response, INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, dismissed these allegations, calling them “unfortunate and inappropriate.” He emphasized that as a law-abiding institution, INEC was unable to comment on issues currently under judicial review. Oyekanmi expressed his disapproval of the PDP governors’ approach, accusing them of engaging in a “media trial” instead of presenting their evidence in court. He reminded the PDP that they had already filed a petition at the tribunal to contest the results of the Edo State governorship election. Therefore, he argued, it was more appropriate for the party to submit their proof in a formal court setting rather than making unsupported claims in public forums.
Oyekanmi also addressed the concerns raised regarding the Ondo State election, where the PDP had accused INEC of misconduct. He strongly defended the commission’s actions, describing the Ondo election as one of the most successfully conducted in recent history. He urged all political parties to adopt a more sportsmanlike attitude, remarking that it was unhealthy for political entities to only accept election results when they emerge victorious. “It is vital to accept the outcome of an election in good faith, whether you win or lose,” Oyekanmi stated.
To provide context, the election results for Ondo State, declared by INEC in October, saw Monday Okpebholo of the APC emerge as the winner with 291,667 votes. PDP’s candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, followed with 247,274 votes, while Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party secured 22,761 votes, placing him third.
This exchange underscores the ongoing tensions and disputes that have accompanied recent elections in Nigeria, with the PDP continuing to challenge the legitimacy of results in key states, while INEC maintains its stance on the integrity of the process.
