Edo 2024: Labour Party Alleges Electoral Malpractices

By Akinwale Kasali

A thoroughly defeated  Labour Party, LP, has described the just concluded Edo State Governorship Election as a sham.

Kelly Ogbalo, the LP Chairman in the State alleged that the Party could have won the State Governorship election if it was conducted in a free and fair manner.

For the records, LP did not win in any Local Government, and its Candidate, Olumide Akpata, did not win even in his polloi booth. He lost it to Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Speaking in an interview, Ogbalo claimed that the election was marred by serious irregularities, including open vote-buying that the security agencies failed to check.

“Labour Party won the election but was not allowed to take possession.  The election was marred with serious irregularities; There was open vote- buying. The security agencies failed to check this anomaly.

“So, in such a way, where votes were bought and with manipulation of results here and there. What do you expect?

When asked if LP would challenge the result in court, Ogbalo said the party had yet to call a State Council Meeting to take a position on the matter.

The All Progressives Congress,  APC,Candidate, Monday Okpebholo was declared winner of the election. He polled 291,667 votes to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who scored 247,274 votes while LP’s Candidate,  Olumide Akpata, came third with 22,763 votes.