Edo 2024: PDP Alleges Presidency Planning to Rig Sept. 21 Election

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused the Presidency of planning to rig the September 21 governorship election in the state in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The state Chairman of the party, Anthony Aziegbemi, who made the allegations in a statement on Saturday, alleged that the Presidency has released a sum of $2 million to the state APC meant to be used to compromise officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security operatives, and the electorates for vote buying.

The PDP statement stated that the money was handed over to the APC governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, with specific instructions on how it should be disbursed.

The PDP also accused the Presidency of instructing the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services to disrupt elections in the party’s strongholds to manipulate the polls for APC’s victory.

Part of the statement reads: “As part of the evil ploy, security chiefs have been ordered to make heavy deployments to the strongholds of the PDP, especially those of Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, and our party’s candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, with the plan to destabilise the voting process in those areas.

“Some of the polling unit, registration area, and ward electoral officials have been discovered to be card-carrying members of the APC.

“Their task, we have learned, is to delay the result of their respective units with the aim of inciting violence and creating an unfavourable atmosphere during the election to favour the APC candidate during the compilation of results.”

The party further called on President Bola Tinubu to live up to his responsibility as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and allow the will of the people to prevail by ensuring a free, fair, and credible election in Edo State.

“The President must realise that keeping Edo State and Nigeria safe and peaceful is his primary responsibility, and must therefore not allow the fear that his party will lose the forthcoming governorship poll in the state to lead him to disrupt peace and security, and set Edo State and Nigeria ablaze.”