According to a report by The Nation, the PDP said the
results being announced BY INEC, which indicates the
All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Godwin
Obaseki was in a comfortable lead, were
predetermined fabrication.
The party made the allegation on Thursday morning
during a press conference held at its governorship
candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s Ugbo Road
residence in Benin City, The Nation reported.
At the briefing were the state chairman, Dan Orbih,
Senator Matthew Urhoghide, Ize-Iyamu and Henry
Duke Tenebe. Orbih said the official results from
INEC were at variance with the result collected by
their agents at the polling units, insisting that the PDP
was the winner of the election.
He claimed that from the results available to them,
the PDP won the election with at least 30,000
margins.
“It was too early to pass comment yesterday
(Wednesday) without reports from agents. We have
since received reports from party agents across 192
wards and all polling units in Edo State. The results
being announced by INEC are not true reflection of
the election.
“INEC started the process of announcing results in
the election at their headquarters in Benin. They
suspended the announcement at some point and
promised to continue this morning.
“We took time to look at results from our agents and
independent observers. From the results, PDP clearly
won the APC in all the local government areas of the
state with a minimum of 30,000 votes. But, we have
compared them with INEC’s figures and observed
there is a wide difference between the figures from
party agents and independent observers with INEC’s
“The result by INEC has confirmed our statement less
48 hours to the election that the Edo State Governor
was telling his party members and leaders that they
have written the results of the election. Everything
the PDP said is playing out.
“INEC disregarded results from various polling units.
Decided to announce the one they wrote before
election was held. While we continue to study this
results still coming in from riverine areas, we are
going to reject the result currently announced by
INEC officials.
“Even areas we won, they have removed most of the
votes with claims that card readers did not function
in those areas. I wonder what the incident forms are
meant for. They were supposed to address such
problems. But in this instance, it is convenient for
INEC to cancel all the results in areas we won.
“INEC should take full responsibility for
malfunctioning card readers. What they are doing at
the INEC is in line with what we said before election.
All INEC officials are working in collaboration with
Edo State Government who has taken pains to go into
INEC office for no cause.”
Similarly, Ize-Iyamu condemned the results being
released by INEC, accusing the commission and
security agencies of connivance with APC, describing
the outcome as a rape of democracy. The PDP
candidate raised serious allegations against the
ruling party, claiming that Governor Adams
Oshiomhole’s government spent not less than
N3billion to buy votes at polling units.
He said: “Contrary to claim that PDP brought in 8,000
militants, the election showed that PDP are law
abiding and did not involve in illegality. The delays in
announcing official result by INEC was in order to
announce predetermined fabricated results.
“The Figures being announced by INEC do not
represent the massive turnout. We have told our
agents to bring all the results issued at the polling
units. We do not want to rely on the messages they
sent. In the next three or four days, will have
complete record. From findings, it is clear a lot of
manipulation has taken place.
“At George Idah Primary School, thugs came in, shot
into the air and carted away election materials. Till
now he has not been apprehended nor declared
wanted. At Ward 10 Ikpoba Okah, APC thugs carted
away materials. At Ohrionwon LGA, a PDP agent was
arrested on the instruction of INEC because she
complained about illegality.
There were over 300 non-Nigerians, whose names
were put in the register at Ohrionwon to vote. We
wonder why non-Nigerians would be allowed to vote
in Edo election. At Etsako East, security agencies were
shooting and driving people to perfect rigging plan.
“The results being announced by INEC were obtained
by fraud and use of arms, ammunitions. There was
no election at Etsako Central. Materials were seized.
We talked about it, condemned it but yet, the results
were accepted.
“The arrest of the journalists I invited from Abuja to
cover the election was clearly an orchestrated plan to
ensure PDP does not only lose the election but
wouldn’t have the evidence of malpractices.
“INEC used the same result sheet whose serial
numbers were disclosed on September 8 before the
postponement of the election. These same result
sheets were deployed to bring in fake results. Ballot
papers and sensitive materials have been thump
printed and shifted into the government house since
two days.
“INEC has failed, connived and in conjunction with
security agencies, betrayed the confidence of
Nigerians. What transpired in Edo is rape of
democracy. Everyone is aware that Edo government
spent not less than N3b to purchase votes at polling
units. PDP does not have that kind of resources at its
disposal.
“A night before the election, APC members were
caught with 3,000 PVCs and N15m but nothing
happened to them. Within INEC, we have got calls
from people who said we should protest the
manipulation. Dissatisfied with outcome.”