Dr. Bright Enabulele, the governorship candidate of the Accord Party (AP) in the recent Edo State governorship election, has announced his intention to challenge the outcome in the Election Tribunal. He alleges that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) engaged in fraudulent practices to favor the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, who was declared the winner.
Enabulele claims that the election results were manipulated, citing his own experience at Ward 5, St. Saviour Ivbiyeneva Primary School unit 1 in the Ikpoba/Okha local government area, where he voted live on television but received zero votes according to the official announcement.
Speaking to journalists in Benin City after his legal team submitted a petition to the tribunal, Enabulele called for the tribunal to either declare him the winner or annul the election and conduct a fresh one, citing “fraud, intimidation, and the deliberate announcement of wrong results by INEC.”
He stated, “The case is against two parties: the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which conducted the election, and the APC candidate declared the winner. The reason for the challenge is due to non-compliance with the electoral process. My mandate was stolen, there was fraud, intimidation, and a deliberate announcement of wrong results.”
Enabulele also expressed concern over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) obtaining a court order to inspect the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS), stating that it should serve as evidence in court rather than being tampered with. He emphasized, “You cannot go to court without evidence. It is not about winning or losing; it’s about ensuring the will of the people stands. Democracy is about the will of the people.”