Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, has ridiculed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following their protests against the recent governorship election results in the state.
On October 2, 2024, PDP leaders staged a march to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Benin City, reiterating their rejection of the election results that declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC as the winner. Okpebholo garnered 291,667 votes, defeating the PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo, who received 247,274 votes.
The PDP has alleged that the results were manipulated in favor of the APC and demanded the dismissal of the electoral commissioner in Edo, alongside a call for INEC to declare Ighodalo as the rightful winner.
In response to the protests, Uwadiae-Igbinigie stated in an interview with The Punch that no amount of protest would alter the election outcome. He asserted, “The PDP can protest as much as they want, but that cannot change the result of the election. They can only approach the tribunal with evidence if they think their mandate has been taken from them.”
He emphasized that the electorate had made their choice clear, saying, “Edo people, who do not want the continuation of a PDP government, passed a referendum with their voter cards and gave the APC the mandate to govern the state from November 12.”
Uwadiae-Igbinigie also advised PDP leaders against wasting their time appealing to President Bola Tinubu and former Governor Adams Oshiomhole for their mandate, stating that these leaders had no role in the election’s outcome. He concluded, “The gentlemen have nothing to do with their mandate.