…Accuses Security Agencies of Ignoring Vote-Buying
The Labour Party (LP) in Edo State has claimed that its candidate, Mr. Olumide Akpata, would have won the September 21, 2024 governorship election if the process had been free and fair.
This allegation was made by the party’s state chairman, Mr. Kelly Ogbalo, during an interview with newsmen in Benin on Monday.
Ogbalo expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome, which saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, declared the winner with 291,667 votes by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He described the election as being marred by “serious irregularities,” including open vote-buying, which he claimed security agencies failed to address.
“Labour Party won the election but was not allowed to take possession,” Ogbalo stated. He explained that the manipulation of results and vote-buying were rampant during the election, hindering the LP’s chances of securing victory.
“Where votes were bought, and with manipulation of results here and there, what do you expect?” he added.
When asked if the party would challenge the result in court, Ogbalo said the LP had not yet convened a state council meeting to decide on their next course of action.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Senator Okpebholo the winner, with 291,667 votes, defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes.
The LP’s candidate, Mr. Olumide Akpata, came third with 22,763 votes.
