The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has made a firm stance against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, in the upcoming September 21, 2024 Edo State governorship election, asserting that they are effectively out of the race.
This declaration by the PDP comes in response to alarming revelations that Senator Okpebholo, the APC candidate, allegedly presented a forged voter’s card when submitting his Form EC9 to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to the PDP’s national publicity secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, this discovery is a critical blow that definitively marks the end of the road for the APC and its electoral aspirations in Edo State.
The PDP went further to allege that certain APC leaders have been exerting undue pressure on specific INEC officials to manipulate the commission’s records and insert falsified voter registration information for their candidate. This, the PDP contends, is not only an affront to the integrity of Edo State’s electoral process but also a grave violation of democratic norms in Nigeria.
Highlighting legal provisions from the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, and the Criminal Code Act, the PDP argued that Senator Okpebholo’s purported actions render him ineligible to participate in the governorship election. They emphasized that any vote cast for the APC would be null and void, as it stands contrary to established legal standards.
Moreover, the PDP urged INEC to resist any pressures from the APC, asserting that hard evidence from the INEC portal clearly demonstrates that Senator Okpebholo is not registered as a voter. They called for the immediate withdrawal of the APC and its candidate from the race, underscoring the importance of upholding electoral integrity and respecting the will of the people of Edo State.
In conclusion, the PDP reassured the electorate of their commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process. They expressed confidence in the candidacy of Asue Ighodalo and urged the people of Edo State to remain vigilant as they work together to safeguard their democratic rights and secure a positive outcome in the upcoming election.
