Ismail Mantu Reporting..
In a strong rebuke following the September 21, 2024, Edo gubernatorial election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, has leveled serious accusations against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police, and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking during an interview on ITV Radio’s Morning Talk Show, “Man Around Town” program, monitored by *Truth Live News*, Ighodalo claimed that elements within INEC, in collaboration with the APC and the police, orchestrated a deliberate effort to manipulate the electoral process.
Ighodalo voiced his profound disappointment in what he described as a compromised election, calling out certain officials within INEC for allegedly accepting bribes to sway the outcome in favor of the ruling party. “You can’t condemn an entire institution,” Ighodalo noted, recognizing that there are still many upstanding officials within the electoral body. However, he emphasized that the actions of “bad actors” within INEC, who he claimed conspired with the APC and security forces, had deeply undermined the credibility of the election.
“These individuals have not only tarnished their own names but have also disgraced their families by participating in this disgraceful act of rigging,” Ighodalo stated. He further lamented that honest and conscientious INEC staff had been demoralized by the unethical conduct of their colleagues, describing the situation as a betrayal akin to “selling their birthright for a pot of porridge.”
In his remarks, Ighodalo issued a stark warning about the broader implications of the alleged misconduct, cautioning that such actions threaten the foundations of Nigeria’s democracy. “They want to kill democracy in Nigeria,” he asserted, expressing frustration at the extent to which certain individuals seemed willing to undermine the people’s will for personal or political gain.
Despite the severity of his allegations, Ighodalo stopped short of naming specific individuals, citing his legal background and the absence of concrete evidence. He emphasized the need for thorough investigations but made it clear that the alleged collusion between INEC, the police, and the APC had cast a significant shadow over the legitimacy of the election results.
Ighodalo’s comments have added to growing concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in Edo State, where many observers, both local and international, reported widespread irregularities. With the PDP having already filed a case before the Election Petition Tribunal, the accusations have heightened tensions and raised questions about the future of democracy in the state and the country at large.
The claims of collusion, if proven true, could have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s democratic system, and all eyes are now on the tribunal as it prepares to adjudicate on the disputed election.