Former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka has called for the cancellation of the September 21 Edo State governorship election, citing evidence of widespread rigging. Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Chidoka accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of compromising the election process.
Chidoka’s non-profit organization, Athena Centre, reviewed the election, which saw APC’s Monday Okpebholo declared winner with 291,667 votes, defeating PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, who secured 247,274 votes. However, Chidoka highlighted issues of voter accreditation discrepancies, overvoting, and manipulation at ward collation centers, which, according to him, undermine the credibility of the election.
“The evidence of systemic rigging is so substantial that we cannot call the results credible,” Chidoka stated. He warned that if such irregularities are allowed to stand, it could set a dangerous precedent for the 2027 general elections.