Mr Kelly Ogbalo, Chairman of the Labour Party, LP, in Edo State, has alleged that the party would have won the governorship election if it were free and fair.
Ogbalo said this in an interview with newsmen in Benin, the state capital, on Monday.
He claimed that the election was marred by irregularities, including open vote-buying that the security agencies failed to check.
Ogbalo alleged that: “Labour Party won the election but was not allowed to take possession.
“What I mean by that is that the election was marred with serious irregularities. There was open vote buying. The security agencies failed to check this anomaly.
“So, where votes were bought, and with manipulation of results here and there, what do you expect?”...[CONTINUE READING HERE ▶▶]
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.
FRecall that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, September 22, declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC winner of the election.
Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who scored 247,274 votes.
LP’s candidate, Mr Olumide Akpata, came third with 22,763 votes.