Mr. Kelly Ogbalo, Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo State, claimed that the party would have won the recent governorship election if it had been free and fair. He made these statements during an interview in Benin, the state capital, on Monday.
Ogbalo alleged that the election was characterized by significant irregularities, including open vote-buying, which he stated security agencies failed to address.
He remarked, “Labour Party won the election but was not allowed to take possession. The election was marred by serious irregularities. There was open vote buying, and the security agencies did not check this anomaly. Where votes were bought, and with manipulation of results, what do you expect?”
When asked if the LP would challenge the election results in court, Ogbalo mentioned that the party had yet to convene a state council meeting to determine its position.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC the winner of the election, with 291,667 votes, defeating Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,274 votes. LP’s candidate, Mr. Olumide Akpata, finished third with 22,763 votes.