According to Mr. Kelly Ogbalo of the Labour Party’s Edo State Chapter, if the election had been held in a free and fair way, the party would have won the state governorship.
In a Monday interview in Benin with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Ogbalo made this accusation.
Serious irregularities, he claimed, including open vote-buying that the security authorities neglected to investigate, tainted the election.
Ogbalo responded that the party had not yet called a state council meeting to take a position on the issue when asked if LP will contest the outcome in court.
Recall that on September 22, Monday Okpebholo of the APC was proclaimed the victor of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC.
With 291,667 votes, Okpebholo defeated PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo, who received 247,274 votes. Mr. Olumide Akpata, the candidate for the Liberal Party, received 22,763 votes, placing him in third place.
“Labour Party won the election but was not allowed to take possession.
“What I mean by that is that the election was marred with serious irregularities; there was open vote buying. The security agencies failed to check this anomaly.
“So in such a way, where votes were bought and with manipulation of results here and there, what do you expect?” he asked
