The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has condemned the outcome of the September 21 Edo governorship election, News About Nigeria reports.
This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Muhammed Ishaq, PRP national publicity secretary.
On Sunday, Farouk Adamu, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returning officer, declared APC candidate Monday Okpebholo as the winner, securing 291,667 votes.
Asue Ighodalo of the PDP followed with 247,655 votes, while Akpata finished third with 22,763 votes
The PRP spokesperson said Nigeria’s election shattered hopes for fairness, exposing deep electoral system flaws.
Ishaq said the election undermined public trust in Nigeria’s democracy despite significant investment, adding that blatant process abuses and citizen dehumanisation highlight the urgent need for electoral reforms.
“Despite the high hopes and expectations of Nigerians for a free and fair exercise of their franchise, the election turned out to be a nightmare, a stark reminder of the deep-seated problems plaguing our electoral system,” the statement reads.
“The PRP believes that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must be unbundled and an Electoral Offences Commission with full prosecutorial powers must be established to ensure that electoral malpractices are put to a stop.
“We cannot continue to tolerate the shenanigans that characterised the Edo election, which undermine our democracy and deny citizens their right to free, fair, and credible elections.
“While we commend the overall peacefulness of the election, we must also acknowledge that this peace was achieved at the cost of people’s liberties.
“The heavy security presence was a conspicuous reminder of the fear and intimidation that many citizens experienced during the elections.
“We desire a situation where elections can be conducted with minimal security presence, allowing citizens to exercise their franchise without fear or intimidation.
“The abysmally low turnout of 20% of registered voters, out of over 2.6 million collected PVCs, is an outright indictment of the electoral system.
“It is a clear indication of widespread discontent and distrust in the efficiency of our democratic processes.”
Ishaq said despite patriotic and optimistic sentiments, events in Edo State eroded hopes for a better future, adding that stakeholders, especially INEC and the government, must address these issues to restore faith in Nigeria’s democratic process.
