The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to challenge the results of the Edo State governorship election in court, following the declaration of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The PDP claims its mandate was “stolen” and is determined to retrieve it through legal means.

The party’s acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, made this announcement during a press briefing in Abuja.

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He urged the people of Edo State to remain steadfast, assuring them that the party would take all necessary legal steps to reclaim the mandate.

This development comes as civil society organizations, including Yiaga Africa, criticized the election, stating that it failed to meet integrity standards.

Similarly, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) called on INEC to review discrepancies in the uploads to its IReV portal.

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Labour Party (LP) candidate, Mr. Olumide Akpata, also condemned the election, calling it a “transaction” and a “democratic sacrilege” perpetrated by both the APC and PDP.

He revealed that the election results are being subjected to forensic analysis by his legal team, and the findings will guide his next course of action.

INEC had declared Okpebholo governor-elect after he secured 291,667 votes, defeating PDP’s Dr. Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 247,566 votes, and Akpata, who received 22,763 votes.

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Meanwhile, Okpebholo has received numerous congratulatory messages from the Federal Executive Council (FEC), state governors, and other stakeholders.

Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has called on Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to step down from presiding over his case, citing a loss of confidence in her handling of the trial.

During the resumed hearing, Kanu expressed his frustration, accusing Justice Nyako of failing to comply with Supreme Court orders related to his case.

He openly requested that she recuse herself from further proceedings.

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In response, Justice Nyako stated that she had no objections to his request and would be pleased to withdraw from the case.

She confirmed that the case file would be returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment and further necessary steps.

Kanu also interrupted the proceedings, instructing his lawyer, Alloy Ejimakor, to remain seated while he directly addressed Justice Nyako from the dock.

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He referenced a Supreme Court judgment that questioned the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court regarding the charges against him, particularly in relation to the location of the alleged broadcasts.

Kanu further cited a portion of the Supreme Court ruling that hinted at possible bias from Justice Nyako, reinforcing his demand for her recusal.

The House of Representatives resumed its plenary today, placing a strong emphasis on constitution amendments, electoral reforms, and local government autonomy.

The House spokesperson, Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr., shared key legislative priorities in a statement on Monday, highlighting the expectation of receiving the 2025 Appropriation Bill from the executive.

This submission, he noted, is critical to maintaining the January–December budget cycle, a practice introduced during the review of the 2024 budget through public town hall meetings.

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Rotimi Jr. emphasized that the House is determined to proceed with key legislative tasks, particularly around constitutional review, which he described as fundamental to Nigeria’s democracy.

The House Committee on Constitution Review, led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, aims to complete its work on the Sixth Alteration to the 1999 Constitution by December 2025.

He revealed that the committee has received over 300 memoranda from the public, reflecting a broad engagement with the ongoing review process.

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Electoral reforms are also a top priority for the House. Rotimi Jr. explained that amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 are necessary to address ambiguities and contradictions in the law.

The legislative body plans to establish mechanisms for continuous electoral law reviews, ensuring they remain relevant and in line with global standards.

A town hall on electoral reforms held in November 2023 will serve as a foundation for further efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system.

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In response to the July 2024 Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy, the House will introduce bills to align existing laws with the new reality.

These reforms are essential for granting local councils greater financial and operational independence, thereby enhancing their capacity to deliver essential services at the grassroots level.

Additionally, the House intends to clarify the roles of local governments in security matters and streamline their electoral processes to reduce conflicts and inefficiencies.

Looking ahead, Rotimi Jr. mentioned that the House anticipates an executive bill on Whistleblower Protection, following recent policy statements from Finance Minister Wale Edun.

This initiative, aligned with the House’s legislative agenda, seeks to strengthen governance and national security by enhancing anti-corruption measures and improving revenue generation.

President Bola Tinubu has extended his congratulations to Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Governor-elect of Edo State, following his victory in the just-concluded governorship election.

Tinubu stated that the victory was a testament to the people’s endorsement of the All Progressives Congress (APC), its progressive ideals, economic reengineering programme, and commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians.

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Senator Okpebholo was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday, defeating his opponents to secure the governorship seat.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu praised APC national leaders, Edo State leaders, and party governors for their dedication and hard work in achieving the victory.

He urged Senator Okpebholo to approach his win with humility and view it as a call to service, rather than an occasion for gloating.

Tinubu advised him to demonstrate magnanimity by reaching out to his political rivals, fostering unity, and ensuring the development of Edo State.

Furthermore, President Tinubu commended other candidates who participated in the election for their role in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.

He noted that peaceful political contests, like the one in Edo State, reflect Nigeria’s evolution into a stable democracy. Tinubu encouraged any aggrieved parties to seek redress through legal means.

The president also lauded the people of Edo State for their peaceful conduct during the election, underscoring the maturing nature of Nigeria’s democracy after 25 years.

“I commend INEC and our security agencies for working tirelessly to conduct a successful, peaceful, and largely hitch-free election. INEC has once again demonstrated its commitment to organizing free and fair elections in our country,” President Tinubu remarked.

Similarly, former President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Chairman of the APC, Umar Ganduje, have congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo on his victory.

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In a message, Buhari described Okpebholo’s triumph as “historic,” expressing optimism that the incoming administration would work inclusively to strengthen democracy and continue the trajectory of Edo State’s development.

Buhari also commended the law enforcement agencies for ensuring a peaceful electoral process and prayed for a renewed era of progress and prosperity for Edo State and its people.

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In the election results announced by INEC, Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,274 votes. Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) came third with 22,763 votes.

Prof. Faruk Kuta, the returning officer, officially declared the results at the INEC collation center in Benin City on Sunday.

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will pursue justice through democratic channels following the controversial results of the Saturday’s governorship election, in which Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner.

During a press conference, Obaseki emphasized the party’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and engaging in peaceful advocacy to address what he described as electoral irregularities.

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“We believe in the democratic process, and we will utilize all legal and constitutional means available to seek justice for the people of Edo State,” he said.

Obaseki called on party members and supporters to remain calm and united as they navigate the post-election landscape.

He urged them to trust the party’s leadership in its efforts to challenge the election results and ensure that the voice of the people is heard.

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The governor also highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability in the electoral process, stressing that the integrity of democracy must be preserved for the future of the state.

As the PDP prepares to challenge the results, political analysts are watching closely to see how the situation develops.

Meanwhile, the APC has reiterated its confidence in the electoral outcome and urged all parties to respect the will of the voters, calling for a focus on governance and development rather than conflict.

Following the announcement of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 2024 governorship election in Edo State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially rejected the results, claiming they were manipulated by INEC.

The PDP’s returning officer for the election alleged that the results do not reflect the true will of the people and called for a thorough investigation into the electoral process.

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He expressed concerns over irregularities observed during the voting and counting phases, asserting that the electoral integrity was compromised.

The atmosphere remains charged as reactions from various political stakeholders continue to emerge.

Supporters of the PDP have organized protests in several locations, demanding transparency and accountability in the election.

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Meanwhile, the APC has defended the results, urging all parties to respect the democratic process and work towards the development of the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Edo State governorship election held on Saturday.

Okpebholo secured a total of 291,667 votes, surpassing his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 222,336 votes, resulting in a decisive margin of over 79,375 votes.

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Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) finished in third place with a significantly lower tally.

In Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is poised for victory, closely followed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, while Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) trails in third place.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released results from 17 local government areas, revealing that Okpebholo has amassed 275,329 votes, compared to Ighodalo’s 195,954 votes, creating a margin of 79,375 votes. The results from Ikpoba-Okha are still pending.

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Meanwhile, the PDP has rejected the results from the local government areas won by the APC.

The party’s agents, including Osagbovo Iyoha, Chief of Staff to the Edo State governor, claimed that the results were fabricated by INEC and do not represent the will of the Edo people.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged victorious in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, the home LGA of Governor Godwin Obaseki, in the recently concluded governorship election.

According to the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC’s candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, secured 30,780 votes, defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 24,938 votes.

Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata finished in third place with 5,389 votes.

The results announced at the State Collation Centre in Benin showed the following figures:

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Registered Voters: 356,242

Accredited Voters: 64,802

Total Votes Cast: 64,042

APC: 30,780

PDP: 24,938

LP: 5,389

At the directive of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima departed Abuja on Sunday for the United States to represent Nigeria at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

President Tinubu tasked Shettima with leading the Nigerian delegation to the high-level global forum, as the President remains focused on addressing critical domestic matters, including the aftermath of the recent flood disaster.

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A statement by the Vice President’s spokesperson, Stanley Nkwocha, confirmed that Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national address at the Assembly, participate in several key meetings, and engage in bilateral discussions on the sidelines.

The General Debate, under the theme “Leaving no one behind: Acting Together for the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development and Human Dignity for Present and Future Generations,” will take place in New York from September 24 to 28, 2024.