The APC in the state alleged foul play in the election. It, however called on its members to stay calm.
In a statement, titled, ‘APC alleges skewed election, to decide next step,’ issued by the Chairman of its Media Campaign Council, John Mayaki, the party rejected the result of the election.
It said, “Our people were arbitrarily arrested. Many of the figures were fabricated.” It further alleged that there was illicit tampering with results to shore up the PDP numbers and mark down APC’s. Areas where we won, they cancelled them. They decreased the votes in areas we had advantage.”
The party also claimed there was arbitrary arrest of its members, who could have resisted rigging. He said Obaseki was busy diverting attention with a false alarm.
“Obaseki shouted that he was being rigged out and blamed INEC at the initial stage but that was to divert attention from the evil going on in the field”, it stated.
Edo people have retired godfathers, tamed lions and tigers – Edo PDP
On its part, the PDP in the state commended the people of the state for reelecting Obaseki.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, the PDP said the victory showed that people had passed vote of confidence in Obaseki.
It stated, “Now that the godfathers have been retired and the lions and tigers tamed, never will terror be unleashed on our people. Never will thugs serve as agents of government and role models.
“The declaration today of Governor Godwin Obaseki as winner of the Edo State governorship election marks a new dawn in the history of our state. A sordid chapter in the development of our state has now been consigned to history.”
Sustain Edo poll success, INEC tells staff, others
In a related development, INEC urged participants in the conduct of elections in Nigeria to prove that the success recorded in the Edo State poll was not a fluke.
INEC Director of Publicity, Andy Ezeani, who said this in a statement in Abuja, stated, “The INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has expressed appreciation to all those who worked to make the Edo State governorship election a success. While winding down the situation room on the governorship election at 2:20pm, the Honourable chairman reminded all that there is no respite yet for all as the attention shifts to Ondo State where the commission will in three weeks conduct another governorship election.”
