Edo Election Mar With Voters’ Intimidation, Falsification Of Results – Akpata

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By Simeon OSAJIE

Edo State governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Barr. Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata today described the Saturday September 21 gubernatorial election as marred by voters’ intimidation and the falsification of results.

While briefing newsmen in Benin, the state capital, Akpata who confessed that the election was largely free from historical forms of election-day malpractice such as ballot box snatching and stuffing, regretted that the election witnessed one of the lowest voter turnouts in recent years, a testament he said to the apathy that has gripped our populace.

“Let us be clear: what transpired on 21 September 2024 was not an election but a transaction. It was enabled by those who chose to stay away, making it easier for the two dominant parties to afford a significant majority of the few votes on offer, and by those who came out and willingly sod their votes.”

According to him, “Throughout this electoral process, I have consistently emphasised that I am not one to complain idly. My approach has always been to seek solutions, and that remains my intention now. However, we cannot address our challenges without first acknowledging them frankly and thoroughly.

“While preparing for this election, we harboured grave concerns about the
integrity of the process. We anticipated that powerful forces would attempt
to skew the outcome in their favour, regardless of the will of the people. Regrettably, these fears have materialized. Yet, we must also confront an uncomfortable truth: the outcome was enabled not just by those who sought to manipulate the process, but also by the actions – and inactions – of a
significant portion of our electorate.

“To those who defied the odds, came out to vote, and stayed to ensure their votes were counted: I commend your courage and commitment to our democracy. You are the true heroes of this election.”

He noted: “However, a troubling theme emerged as the day unfolded: a widespread vote-buying scheme by both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). As attested to by YIAGA Africa, a leading civil society organisation and domestic observer group, our sacred electoral process was reduced to a commodities market – a bidding war for votes. This practice, no less damaging than outright ballot stuffing, has effectively disenfranchised the people of Edo State.

“To those who sold their votes: We extend our understanding, not condemnation. We acknowledge the crushing economic hardships that many of you face daily – hardships that make the immediate relief of vote selling seem like a lifeline. Yet, this short-term gain comes at an immense long term cost. We implored you to reflect deeply on the consequences of your actions, to recognise that your vote is the legacy you bequeath to future generations. In the end, it became painfully clear that we did not have the people, as many – including some Labour Party faithfuls and agents – willingly sold their future for peanuts to the very political parties whose actions and policies have impoverished them.

“Now, we have unwittingly instituted a collegiate system of government comprising godfathers, surrogate Governors, and other forces within and outside the State who hope to puppeteer the Governor-elect. The implications of this for Edo States development are dire. We face the prospect of continued under development, misallocation of resources, and governance that serves the interests of a few rather than the needs of the many. We must now live with these consequences for years to come.

“Our campaign steadfastly refused to engage in this cash-and-carry approach. We did not budget to compete with the two political parties whose Governors perhaps may have dipped their hands into their States treasuries to provide the war chest for this show of shame. Even if we had the resources, we lacked the inclination to participate in such a perversion of democracy. Nothing illustrates this principle more clearly than the loss of my own polling unit. If I were so inclined, I could have easily mustered enough cash to secure enough votes to win my poling unit. But that is not the path we chose.

“Instead, we remained faithful to our brief in the sanctity of the ballot and the inalienable right of our people to freely choose their leaders without coercion
inducement. This was not political naivety, but a testament to our
unwavering commitment to true democracy – where a vote’s value lies in its
power to effect change, not in the amount of Naira it can command.

“We reserve our strongest condemnation for those who engaged in vote buying: the APC and PDP. Their actions have directly contributed to the destruction of our State’s economy over the past 25 years, creating the enabling environment for this democratic sacrilege to thrive. This election has laid bare the stark reality that our political landscape is dominated not by ideologies or the people’s will, but by those with the deepest pockets and the most extensive networks of influence.

“I hold no sympathy for the PDP, who now cry foul after being outmaneuvered in this macabre game of thrones. They willingly participated in the bidding war with the APC, fully aware of the rules from the outset. Their lamentations
ring hollow in the face of their own complicity in this democratic travesty.”

Going further, the LP Governorship candidate added: “As for the APC and the Governor-elect, their actions have undermined the democratic process, betrayed the trust of the very people they seek to lead, and eroded faith in our democratic institutions. This is the legacy that will overshadow their ill-gotten mandate. Their “grab, snatch, and run” playbook is akin to riding on the back of a tiger will ultimately be the source of their undoing.

“As we stand at this critical juncture in our State’s history, we must ask ourselves:
Is this the democracy we envisioned? Is this the legacy we wish to leave for
our children? A system where the size of one’s purse determines the weight of
one’s voice is not a democracy but a plutocracy in disguise.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to building a democracy that works
for all, not just the highest bidder. We continue to envision an Edo State, and a Nigeria, where ideas triumph over Naira, where the collective will of the people shapes our future, and where every citizen feels the impact of good
governance in their daily lives.

“To achieve this vision, we must push for comprehensive electoral reform. We need to leverage technology to create foolproof systems that make vote buying not just difficult, but impossible. We must also address the root causes
that make our people susceptible to vote-selling. This means creating
economic opportunities, improving education, and building a society where
citizens do not feel compelled to mortgage their future for immediate gains.

“I urge all stakeholders – NEC, security agencies, civil society organisations,
and every concerned citizen to seize this pivotal moment and interrogate
these irregularities, not merely as a postmortem of this election, but as a
critical step in safeguarding our democracy.

“To our supporters and all those who share our belief in the promise of a better Edo State: Do not lose heart. The path to true democracy is often long and fraught with challenges, but it is a journey we must undertake together. Our struggle for good governance, transparency, and accountability continues. We must remain vigilant, engaged, and committed to the ideas that will truly move our State and our nation forward.

“Let this moment serve not as a defeat, but as a rallying cry for all who believe in the promise of democracy. The road ahead may be challenging, but with unity, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to our principles, we can and will build the Edo State, and Nigeria, of our dreams. The power to shape our future ies not just in the ballot box, but in our daily commitment to the values of integrity, transparency, and public service.”

While responding to question if he was going to approach the tribunal to contest INEC decision of the election, Akpata said that the party and his campaign council has submitted their forensic audits to their party’s lawyer for analysis. “The outcome of our lawyer analysis will determine our approach to tribunal”, he said.