The Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives has rejected the outcome of the Edo state governorship election.
Speaking on Wednesday during a press conference at the national assembly, the caucus said the gubernatorial election conducted on Saturday was not free and fair.
News About Nigeria reports that the caucus maintained that its governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, was rigged out.
Speaking on behalf of the caucus, George Ozodinobi, the Deputy Minority Whip of the House, described the election results as “the highest theft of the season”
He added that “the electorate were clearly robbed of their votes, and their will and wishes dashed”.
Ozodinobi, flanked by other caucus members, said the Labour Party and its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, campaigned vigorously but were still allocated a paltry number of votes.
“It is on record that our leader and presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, His Excellency Peter Obi, campaigned vigorously for our gubernatorial candidate in every nook and cranny of the state.
“Of course, the whole world witnessed the massive crowds that the Obidient movement pulled wherever he went during the campaign. Yet, Chief Akpata was allocated paltry votes in a state where, just about a year and seven months ago, the Labour Party had one Senator and two House of Reps members,” he said.
When asked if the party would challenge the election outcome in court, the lawmaker responded that consultations are ongoing.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returning officer for the election had declared Monday Okpebholo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner.
Okpebholo garnered 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 247,655 votes.
Olumide Akpata, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), came a distant third with 22, 763 votes.
