BENIN – The Accord Party governorship candidate for the 2024 Edo State gubernatorial election, Dr Bright Enabulele has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the Edo State Governorship Election petition Tribunal, alleging that the commission committed electoral fraud against him to favour the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
Dr. Bright Enabulele, the Accord Party’s governorship candidate, had earlier accused INEC of compromising the recently concluded Edo State governorship elections, describing it as the most fraudulent election in Nigeria’s history
He alleged that the results were so manipulated to the extent that his own unit 1 at Ivbiyeneva Primary School, St Saviour voting centre of Ward 5, in Ikpoba/Okha local government area of the state, where he voted on live TV, his party, Accord, recorded zero vote.
Speaking to journalists in Benin City soon after his counsel submitted his petition to the election petition tribunal, Enabulele said,his prayers to the tribunal was to declare him winner of the election or cancel the entire exercise , adding ,”there was monumental fraud , intimidation , deliberate announcement of wrong results by INEC”.
Enabulele said he was not against the winner of the election, but the process leading to the acclaimed victory, maintaining that the BVAS was there to reduce human interference, but that the BVAS was manipulated by the electoral umpire.
The Accord party candidate also faulted the court order obtained by the PDP, arguing that it was wrong as the BVAS was supposed to serve as evidence in court, when the tribunal would commence seating.
“The case is against two parties, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who conducted the election and the APC candidate (Monday Okpebholo) that was declared winner.
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“My reason for the action is due to the non- compliance with the electoral process. My mandate was stolen, there was fraud, intimidation and deliberate announcement of wrong results.
“Nigeria is a country governed by rule of law. I have been crying for many days now due to the outcome of the election, especially when the voting unit where I cast my vote recorded zero votes.
“We cannot continue to rely on human interference. The BVAS was made to reduce human interference but the BVAS was tempered with, it was manipulated, there was severe manipulation at the collation process. Many agents were intimidated to sign wrong results,” he alleged.
Enabulele added, “We are telling Nigerians that the most important thing is how our leaders emerge, if the process is wrong, then we can never get it right. I am not against the winner of the election, but against how the winner emerged. If somebody wins let him win correctly, if he loses, let him lose correctly.
“We cannot allow people’s votes to be stolen, it doesn’t matter whether it was 100 or 200. For me, my mandate was stolen. They should declare me the winner or cancel the election.
“I was told that PDP obtained a court order to inspect BVAS, but for me, it is wrong. Nobody should be given access to the BVAS, because it is supposed to serve as evidence in the court.
“You cannot go to court without evidence. It is not about winning or losing, but that the will of the people should stand. Democracy is about the will of the people,” declared.
