U.S Ambassador: Conduct of Edo governorship election widely peaceful
U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
By Ayorinde Oluokun
The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills has said last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State was widely peaceful.
Mills said this in a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, signed by him on Tuesday.
He therefore commended the people of Edo over their peaceful conduct during the governorship election and the state governor, Godwin Obaseki for appealing for peace.
“The U.S. Mission in Nigeria commends the people of Edo for the widely peaceful conduct of gubernatorial elections on September 21 and reiterates calls for calm following the announcement of results.
“We commend Gov Obaseki’s appeal for peace and urge all stakeholders, including INEC, to support established electoral processes and respect legal procedures to challenge results,” he said.
The ambassador noted that transparency and due process were crucial to maintaining confidence in any democratic system.
He also reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to supporting free, fair, transparent, and credible elections in Nigeria, and assured that it would continue to monitor the Edo situation closely.
“Transparency and due process are crucial to maintaining public confidence in any democratic system.
“The United States reaffirms our commitment to supporting free, fair, transparent, and credible elections in Nigeria, and will continue to monitor the situation closely,” Mills stated.
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the Edo governorship election.
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Okpebholo defeated Asue Ighodalo of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who came second among the 18 candidates who contested the election.
However, the PDP rejected the outcome of the election, saying it will use every legal means to overturn the outcome.
The PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum stated this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday.
Damagum said results obtained from the polling units showed that PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo clearly won the election before the figures were allegedly altered.
“The PDP therefore unequivocally rejects the final result of the Edo governorship election as declared by INEC.
“The election did not meet the minimum standard for democracy having not reflected the expressed will and aspiration of the people in line with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and INEC Guidelines for State Governorship election,” he said.
Damagum called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to within the time stipulated by Section 65 of the Electoral Act, 2022 review the Edo governorship election.
Damagum also called on INEC to announce results only as obtained from the genuine votes cast at the Polling Units (PUs).
“The PDP calls on all Nigerians and lovers of democracy all over the world to stand up in solidarity with the people of Edo in rejecting this assault on the democratic rights of the people.
“The people of Edo clearly chose Asue Ighodalo as the next Governor of their state and only their will as expressed at the PUs must be allowed to stand.
“The PDP charges the people of Edo to remain resolute and undeterred as our Party takes firm steps to retrieve the mandate with every means legal and available in a democracy,” he said.
