The Edo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Senator Monday Okpebholo led Edo State government of attempting to conceal the electoral malpractices allegedly committed by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC on 21 September which eventually gave him victory at the polls.
In a statement by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Chris Osa Nehikhare, which was made available to newsmen in Benin City, condemned the statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okpebholo describing it as an attempt to discredit the independent analysis by the Athena Centre fo Policy and Leadership, a non-partisan research institute.
Nehikhare alleged that the analysis which is backed by incontrovertible evidential materials and data allegedly exposed the rigging by INEC.
According to the statement, “Our attention has been drawn to a ridiculous and disappointing statement credited to the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, where he made laborious and baseless claims in a desperate effort to discredit the independent analysis by the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, a non-partisan research institute, which exposed the widespread manipulation that marred the September 21 governorship election.
“The analysis, backed by incontrovertible evidence and data, clearly showed the orchestration of rigging by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to favor the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The desperate attempts by Okpebholo and his media hirelings to deflect attention from these facts only underscore their fear of the truth and their unwillingness to confront the reality of their fraudulent actions.
“We want to categorically state that the centre did not release the report as observers of the election, the analysis is the outcome of careful examination and analysis of documents and data made available to the centre by INEC who are the electoral umpires.
“We sympathize with the Governor and his team because we know they are not very conversant with digital tools or anything that has to do with data, which makes them extremely uncomfortable when confronted with hard facts. This is evident in their reaction to the independent analysis, where instead of addressing the data and evidence presented, they resort to baseless claims and campaigns of calumny.
“We understand their challenge, they clearly do not understand data and are unable to utilize same effectively. However, the data in question is a true picture of the election, based on the documents provided by INEC, which revealed the systemic rigging and brazen manipulation of the governorship election in Edo State. It is akin to daylight robbery and the robbers blatantly refused to wear masks as they robbed in their community.
“But rather than focus on addressing the weighty issues raised about the credibility of the election which got the governor to Dennis Osadebey Avenue through the back door, the APC and Okpebholo are more interested in name calling, intimidating civil and public servants, sacked and serving as well threatening Edo people and individuals who dare to speak up against this daylight robbery.
“We also want to restate that Osita Chidoka, who exposed the large-scale manipulation on Channels Television’s Politics Today, resigned from his political party, the PDP, to pursue the integrity of elections. A noble cause which all right thinking political parties, politicians and government should be championing”.
While wondering why the APC is jittery over Chidoka’s revelation even though the name of the party was not mentioned as the focus was on INEC, Nehikhare assured that they’ll recover their electoral mandate.
“One would even wonder why the APC is so jittery if they truly won the election in a free, fair, and credible process. After all, Chidoka didn’t even attack the APC, but rather focused on INEC, the electoral umpire, who are the ones that provided the materials and documents for the independent analysis. Anyway, like they say, the guilty are afraid!
“We suggest that the Governor should get on with whatever he was selected to do. His lamentation and threats now make him sound like a broken record. His moaning and obsession with the last PDP government is daily resembling that of a jilted lover.
“The people of Edo State have spoken at the September 21 governorship poll casting their vote for the PDP, and their mandate cannot be undermined by deceit, intimidation, or baseless claims. We remain steadfast in our resolve to reclaim our party’s mandate and are confident in the judiciary to ensure that justice prevails”.