The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected accusations from governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it manipulated the results of the 2024 Edo State governorship election to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The PDP Governors’ Forum, after a two-day meeting in Jos, claimed that irregularities deprived its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, of victory in Edo.
The forum also accused INEC of tampering with the outcome of the Ondo governorship election and called for reforms to electoral laws, alleging “institutional sabotage of the will of the people.”
INEC had declared APC’s Monday Okpebholo winner of the Edo election with 291,667 votes, followed by PDP’s Ighodalo with 247,274 votes, while Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata came third with 22,761 votes.
In Ondo, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the APC emerged victorious, defeating PDP’s Agboola Ajayi and Labour Party’s Olorunfemi Festus.
Responding to the PDP’s claims, Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, described the allegations as “unfortunate and inappropriate.” He urged the PDP to present its evidence at the election tribunal rather than engage in a “media trial.”
“As a law-abiding organisation, we cannot comment on a matter that is before the court. It is sub judice,” Oyekanmi said. He added that INEC delivered one of its best elections in Ondo, emphasising that no election is perfect but insisting the commission performed well.
Oyekanmi also called for political maturity, stating that “it is not healthy to accept election outcomes only when you win.”
