The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Publicity Secretary in Edo State, Prince Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, explained why the collation of Oredo and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government results were moved to the State Collation Centre.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, cited security concerns for the relocation. “The collation was moved because the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of the election, acting on intelligence, informed the commission that they could not guarantee security in the two places,” Olumekun said.
Olumekun emphasized that INEC has the power to decide on the venue for collation, especially when there’s a threat to lives and property. “So, since there was reported threat, we had no choice but to move the collation to the state headquarters of INEC, where there was better security provided by soldiers, policemen, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security personnel.”
Uwadiae-Igbinigie supported the movement, stating that the 2022 Electoral Act allows for the relocation of collation centers to safer areas. He added that all party agents, except the PDP’s, agreed to move the collation centers to the INEC office.
However, the PDP rejected the election results, with National Chairman Illyas Damagum calling for a review of the results from various polling units and collation centers. “The PDP therefore, unequivocally rejects the final result of the Edo State governorship election as declared by INEC,” Damagum said.
APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullah Ganduje celebrated the party’s victory, saying it’s a precursor to their win in the Ondo State governorship election. “We have started working to develop strategies to win these states. Next year, Anambra State will follow,” Ganduje said.
Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu attributed the PDP’s loss to Governor Godwin Obaseki’s leadership style, describing it as dictatorial. “Obaseki refused to share his programme with us and felt he could become an autocrat, a dictator,” Shaibu said.
Former Edo State House of Representatives Speaker Kabiru Adjoto praised Okpebholo’s victory, saying Edo people voted against the PDP government due to its poor performance. “The people of Edo have spoken through the ballot because they were tired of the current government,” Adjoto said.
In contrast, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi criticized the election outcome, calling it a “blatant example of ‘state capture’” that undermines Nigeria’s democratic process and values.
