EdoDecides2024: Controversy erupts as PDP ‘announces’ Edo governorship election results

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the only organization authorized by the Constitution and the 2022 Election Act to declare results for the Edo State gubernatorial election; nevertheless, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has unexpectedly and controversially released its own version of the results.

PDP governors, including Adamawa’s Ahmadu Fintiri, took to the podium during a press conference on Sunday to present what they claimed to be the official results from various polling places and local governments.

The press conference was held just before INEC’s scheduled collation of results at its central Collation Centre in Benin City.

Fintiri, standing alongside Asue Ighodalo, the PDP’s governorship candidate, asserted that the figures they provided were already in the public domain.

“I am not usurping the powers of the electoral umpire,” he stated.

“I did not announce results, I only informed the public on the exact figure from our collation agent that was ongoing before INEC disrupted the process… INEC should be accused of violating the Electoral Act, not me,” Fintiri said.

As far as Gistreel is aware, INEC has not yet started compiling the results of the governorship election that took place in Edo State on Saturday.

See video below;