The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has filed a petition to challenge the outcome of the Edo state governorship election.

Anthony Aziegbemi, chairman of the PDP in Edo, said the party will be victorious at the tribunal.

Aziegbemi spoke in Benin City, the state capital, on Monday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the September 21 governorship election in Edo.

Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, who got 247,274 votes.

Olumide Akpata, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), came a distant third with 22,763 votes.

The PDP chairman in Edo assured party members and people of the state that their mandate would be returned by the tribunal.

“We have filed our petition before the election tribunal on behalf of Edo people despite not being allowed to inspect the election materials,” he said.

“Be rest assured, the journey to reclaim our mandate has begun, and by the grace of God, your mandate will be returned.

“We know many of you, and indeed Edolites would have been wondering why we have not engaged you after the saddest day in the history of Edo state.

“The day when your mandate and right to freely choose your leaders for the next four years were stolen from you, following the exemplary performance of our governor, Godwin Obaseki.

“We are here to let you know that your vote will eventually count. You stood firm, faced intimidation, accepted their inducements, and still voted for the PDP.

“Your resolve is a testament to your desire for true democracy in Edo state.

“The unthinkable then happened; your votes were discarded. You were violated, and they thought they could silence your choice.

”We want you to know that we will stand with you all the way, ensuring your voice is heard and your vote is respected.“

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the inspection of election materials used in the Edo governorship election indefinitely.

The postponement was sequel to a clash between supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the commission’s secretariat in the state.

The electoral commission initially fixed the inspection for Wednesday after the PDP alleged it was prevented from inspecting the materials on Monday.

Thereafter, INEC fixed Thursday for the inspection following an objection by the APC.

The party alleged that the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) were brought to INEC’s secretariat in vehicles owned by the Edo government, adding that it did not get enough notice before the inspection was to commence on Wednesday.

Goodluck Osaretin, one of the representatives of the PDP, described APC’s objection as “desperation to prevent us from inspecting the BVAS machines”.

“We are not surprised by what is happening,” Osaretin said.

Gunshots could be heard and that forced INEC to postpone the inspection of election materials indefinitely.

Inspecting the election materials is a prerequisite for the PDP to file its case at the Edo governorship election tribunal.

Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the PDP, is challenging the victory of Monday Okpebholo, Edo governor-elect.

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appointed Yayari Mohammed as the party’s acting national chair.

The development follows the suspension of Kamaldeen Ajibade, PDP’s national legal adviser, and Debo Ologunagba, national spokesperson of the party, on Friday.

The duo were suspended by the national working committee (NWC) led by Umar Damagum, acting national chair of the PDP, for alleged anti-party activities.

In a statement signed by Ologunagba, a faction of the NWC announced the suspension of Damagum and Sam Anyanwu, national secretary of the PDP, citing anti-party activities.

Ologunagba, while speaking for the group, said Mohammed’s appointment is in line with the PDP’s amended constitution of 2017 and takes immediate effect.

“Following the suspension of His Excellency, Ambassador Illiya Damagum as the Acting National Chairman of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Working Committee (NWC) has approved the appointment of Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the Acting National Chairman,” the statement reads.

“The appointment which takes immediate effect is pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

“The NWC calls on all Organs, leaders, critical stakeholder and members of our great Party to remain focused at this critical time especially as the NWC commences arrangements towards the holding of the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting already scheduled for Thursday, 24th October, 2024.”

Meanwhile, a federal high court in Abuja has restrained the NEC and BoT of the PDP from removing Damagum as the acting national chair.

In a judgment delivered via Zoom on Friday, Peter Lifu, the presiding judge, ordered that aside Damagum, no other person must be recognised as the PDP acting national chair until the party’s convention scheduled for December 2025.