Dr. Bright Onabulele, the Accord Party candidate in the recent Edo State governorship election, has officially rejected the results announced following Saturday’s vote.
The election saw Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerge victorious with 291,667 votes, defeating Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,274 votes, and Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata, who placed third with 22,763 votes.
In a press briefing held in Abuja on Tuesday, Onabulele acknowledged that while the election was conducted peacefully, he deemed it far from credible. “I have no issue with the winner, but I am concerned about the electoral process itself. Our election laws are intended to safeguard the voices of the people,” he stated.
Onabulele emphasized the importance of a credible electoral process in combating corruption and ensuring good governance. “If the electoral process is flawed, we risk electing individuals who may not represent the people’s best interests,” he added.
He further articulated the distinction between a peaceful election and a credible one, asserting, “Just because the election was peaceful does not mean it was credible. Significant issues arose during the voting process, primarily due to human interference. In this 21st century, such occurrences should not be tolerated.”
The candidate called for reduced human intervention in future elections to enhance their credibility. He noted, “The integrity of the electoral process must be safeguarded from human interference. Excessive interference leads to the election of unsuitable leaders, paving the way for corruption. Bad governance begins with the election of our leaders, and this election revealed that we have not made significant progress as a nation regarding electoral conduct.”
Onabulele recounted his experience at the polling station, where he was properly identified and allowed to vote. However, he expressed disbelief when results from his local government showed him recorded as having received zero votes. “What happened after I cast my vote? That is the question that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must address.”
He expressed concern about the discrepancies observed during the election and insisted on holding INEC accountable. “This election is about our future, not merely the present. History will judge us. I am not here for a power struggle. I want to ensure that if I fail, I do so correctly, and if I win, I do so justly.”
