Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has responded to accusations from former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka, who claimed that the 2024 Edo State governorship election was rigged in favour of the All Progressives Congress.
Chidoka, the founder of the Athena Centre, called for the September 21 election results to be annulled, alleging widespread fraud.
During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Chidoka pointed to what he described as “substantial evidence” of systemic rigging in the election. He criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission for its role in the alleged misconduct and demanded that the results be invalidated, warning that accepting the outcome would set a dangerous precedent for future elections.
In the election, Governor Okpebholo emerged victorious with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party , who garnered 247,274 votes.
However, Chidoka and his Athena Centre, which had reviewed the election, alleged that the process was compromised, calling into question the legitimacy of Okpebholo’s victory.
Reacting to the allegations, Governor Okpebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, issued a statement on Saturday condemning Chidoka’s comments as part of a coordinated effort by the PDP to undermine the will of the people.
Itua accused Chidoka of spreading false claims and attempting to influence the judiciary by publicly denouncing the election’s integrity.
He further criticized Chidoka for relying on “fabricated” data, claiming that Athena Centre did not conduct a thorough review of the election and was instead operating under the influence of former Governor Godwin Obaseki. According to Itua, the PDP was attempting to discredit the election results through a “media trial” and was seeking to reverse the legitimate outcome in the courts.
The statement also addressed the ongoing legal process, emphasizing that the case was already in court and should be allowed to proceed without external interference. Itua expressed confidence that the judiciary would remain impartial and uphold the truth, despite what he described as an orchestrated campaign to sway public opinion.
Governor Okpebholo’s administration has been moving forward with reforms, including investigating the financial activities of the previous administration. Itua suggested that these efforts to recover misappropriated assets from the Obaseki-led government were a major factor behind the PDP’s smear campaign against the current administration.
Okpebholo’s camp warned that they would not be swayed by media attacks or the actions of what they referred to as paid agents working on behalf of the PDP. The statement reiterated the governor’s commitment to delivering on his mandate and working for the people of Edo State, irrespective of the ongoing political challenges.
The statement read in part, “First, the factional chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Edo State, is blind to the glaring reality that the party was spurned by Edo people in the last governorship election because of their weakness, as own enemies. Overlooking its messy and divided house, the party is shopping for non-existent evidence to upturn the popular will of the people, at the Tribunal. What exactly is the intention and or benefit of orchestrating a media trial, as Mr. Chidoka has done? It amounts to deliberate ambush. Even though the PDP and its hatchetman understand that discussing an issue that is sub-judicial is wrong, they are yet unremitting in their shambolic plot to supplant facts with concoctions, with the hope of arriving at their pre-meditated end.”