Featured, Politics
…says no election can be manipulated without INEC’s connivance
By Anthony Isibor
JUST a few hours after the Edo State governorship election, which was held on Saturday, September 21 was over, Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in the election had described it as likely to be the worst in the history of the country.
Ighodalo, who was expressing his dissatisfaction at the conduct of the election in an interview with BBC on Sunday had noted that although the election began on an even counter, manipulations began almost immediately and it became clear that the elections were not going to be freely and fairly held.
He contended that there were over 50 units where the total results were much more than the voters that were cleared to vote. “So, I am very disappointed. It’s beginning to look like we are having probably the worst election in the history of our country being conducted in Edo state. We saw, yesterday, certain moves that seem to obviously suggest blatant attempts to manipulate the results of the elections.
“A great example is a place like Ologbo in Ukpoba-Oha; the total voters that were accredited was 156 , the result declared gives APC 2110 and PDP 57, and we have like 50 such units where such results have been thrown up where we have the total number of votes far outstripping people that came to accredit for the election. That is impossible, if a 100 people are accredited, then either you have a 100 or less voting.
“It is preposterous. And you know the irony of the whole thing where all these things happened, APC ended up winning in all of those places. So, we see clear manipulations. I have always said that manipulation cannot happen except there is complexity and connivance by the INEC period!
“So, that’s why I say that the way I see the direction of this elections it is clear that it probably might be the worst election in the history of Nigeria with the way is going if INEC doesn’t turn a new leaf,” he urged.
Although Ighodalo may have declared himself and the party as peace loving people, he, however, said that injustice would not be accepted.
He noted that people cannot be allowed to use power as they please.
“If the elections are fairly and freely conducted, then we will take the outcome of the elections. But we have seen this crass manipulations, this subversion of the will of the people of Edo State is untenable, it is unacceptable, totally unacceptable.
“People can’t just use what they think are the powers that they have, which truly are powers from God and from the people of Nigeria, and use powers to subvert, undermine, intimidate and punish the people of the country.
“It is not acceptable. And these are the things that are the beginning of bigger problems for countries. People are not students of history, people don’t love their country, they don’t even love themselves because if there is a big problem from the whole of this, it will affect everybody. There is nobody that will say because you are the purveyor of the crime, you will escape,” he added.
The PDP candidate while calling on INEC to always allow the will of the people to prevail in an election, also expressed confidence in the will of the Edo people to do the right thing.
According to him, as far as the people of Edo state are concerned, they are going through a normal process of electing a new government and they didn’t think they would have to go through all of this hassle to get to the point where they elected a new government.
“So the people of Edo state are sad, they feel pained, they are worried that their true intentions, wishes and desires are about to be subverted, but I know the people of Edo State, they are strong people, they are strong willed people, they understand political issues, they are very conversant with political ways and processes, and I think they will stand up and speak for themselves as things unfold.
“But I am hoping very seriously that INEC will retrace its steps and understand that it cannot be used as cannon fodder by politicians that don’t like the people,” he added.
A.I
Sept. 23, 2024
Tags: Anthony Isibor Asue Ighodalo INEC PDP Peoples Democratic Party
