Alexander Okere, Benin

The Peoples Democratic Party on Monday said that it would challenge the outcome of the Edo State governorship election at the election petitions tribunal.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had last Thursday declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Godwin Obaseki, as the winner of the election.

According to the electoral umpire, Obaseki had a total of 319,483 votes while his counterpart in the PDP, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, polled 253,173 votes to come second.

The opposition had rejected the result, which it described as a fraud, and accused INEC of alleged complicity.

But the Edo State PDP Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, who disclosed this in a chat with The PUNCH in Benin, the Edo State capital, explained that the party would leave nothing to chance to prove that the result was manipulated and that it would also expose the alleged corruption and incompetence of the electoral commission.
He, therefore, called for the dissolution of the present leadership of the INEC.

Orbih said, “Of course, we are going to file our petition at the election petitions tribunal. We will give it our all. If nothing else, to expose to Nigerians how corrupt and incompetent INEC is, under its present leadership.

“Our lawyers are busy; they are working. Until they formally file a petition, all I can say is that we are going to challenge the result of this election at the tribunal.”

While stressing the role of the judiciary in upholding the tenet of democracy, he expressed confidence in its ability to give justice to Nigerians.

“We will pursue this matter to a logical conclusion and I believe that the judiciary has a role to play to save democracy and give Nigerians hope that, in a country where people do things with impunity, people can still approach the judiciary for justice,” he added.

On whether the party was convinced that the outcome of the tribunal would not end in favour of the candidate returned elected by the INEC, as was the case in Bayelsa and Kogi states, Orbih noted that the PDP would give the tribunal the benefit of the doubt.

He said, “What happened in Kogi is not what has happened in Edo. What happened in Bayelsa is not what has happened in Edo.

“We must give that benefit of doubt, rather than resort to self-help or take the law into our hands. We want to test this obvious fraudulent manipulation of INEC, in collaboration with the state government, in the election result in the judiciary.”

bejeiodus:
Time for some legal fireworks. The PDP has taken the right step by going to court to seek legal redress for the alleged manipulated election. It is better than taking the law into their own hands. I pray they get the justice they seek.

modath:
Why not.... democracy and rule of law welcomes it, the move will also put our electoral laws to test.

It is better than setting other people's kids on the streets while theirs are safely ensconced in their respective mansions....

The truth though is that the case is like the day after a major party, nothing nothing....

saintkel:
Most times I find it hard to comprehend u. No offence intended. U need to water down ur grammars though

modath:


First thing first, howdy?

Let's be real, what's the main grouse? What transpired? I know your head is well bolted on.....

Voter inducement or falsification/alteration of recorded votes? The former though a crime is impossible to prove and isn't admissible in court, the latter, where were the agents and co of PDP? Why have not seen any alternate collated result anywhere beyond the people claiming different results with no evidence to back up.

Questions questions.....

modath:


First thing first, howdy?

Let's be real, what's the main grouse? What transpired? I know your head is well bolted on.....

Voter inducement or falsification/alteration of recorded votes? The former though a crime is impossible to prove and isn't admissible in court..

As for the latter, where were the agents and co of PDP? Why have we not seen any alternate collated result anywhere beyond the people claiming different results with no evidence to back up... Proof is IMPORTANT..

Questions questions.....

bejeiodus:
My sister, I dey oooo. Since it is almost a routine exercise for every major loser in an election to go to court, this doesn't come as a surprise. I have said it elsewhere that I won't advise Pastor Iyamu to go to court. Aside the fact that there are many holes in the case, the courts these days rarely rock the boat. I was expecting them to upturn Bello's victory but it was upheld by the Supreme Court based on some obscure legal terminologies.
But na them right to seek justice if they feel they were robbed of victory. No be my money dem go take pay lawyers.

royallord1:

if u know anything about the law... its wrong and unwise infact you would be shooting urself in the foot by reveal the card in your hand before the actual game begin... let the case start then the barage of evidence and fact will hit them (apc) from all sides at the same time...

modath:


I won't get into long debates with you but we have seen pic online of results (declared and manipulated).

modath:


I won't get into long debates with you but we have seen pic online of results (declared and manipulated).