In a recent interview, Tony Aziegbemi, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, shared his perspective on the local government election recently held in the state. He also responded to allegations made by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding the election. Aziegbemi emphasized the significance of recognizing the successful conduct of the election.
Regarding the APC’s claims that the election was rigged and figures were prepared in advance, Aziegbemi expressed his surprise and categorically denied the allegations. He pointed out that the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) had established a clear timetable for the election, and all pre-election activities were conducted in adherence to this schedule. He suggested that other political parties had attempted to disrupt the process by raising issues that were not part of the official timetable. Aziegbemi also underscored the extensive campaign efforts of the PDP, led by Governor Godwin Obaseki, which he believed played a pivotal role in the party’s success.
When questioned about allegations of deploying thugs to intimidate supporters of other parties and claims that only PDP members were allowed into certain polling units, Aziegbemi staunchly defended the integrity of the election. He noted that there are thousands of polling units across the state, and any isolated incidents would have minimal impact on the overall election results. Aziegbemi expressed skepticism regarding the validity of these claims and called for concrete evidence to substantiate them.
Aziegbemi also addressed the issue of multiple sets of results declared in Etsako West local government. He emphasized that, in accordance with the EDSIEC Act, only the EDSIEC chairman possessed the authority to declare an individual as the chairman of a local government following the election. He cautioned that those who had declared themselves as winners would face legal consequences, and videos depicting such actions were available for public scrutiny.
Responding to questions about whether the PDP’s landslide victory was solely attributed to their campaign efforts, Aziegbemi affirmed that the governor had taken the campaign very seriously and had engaged with all aspirants, including those who did not secure the party’s ticket. This engagement had led to their active support and contribution to the party’s success.
Aziegbemi also addressed concerns regarding the alleged inadequacy of providing only 100 ballot papers per unit, suggesting that the decision was likely based on voter turnout data and historical participation rates in the state. He believed that additional ballot papers could be supplied by Supervising Presiding Officers (SPOs) if necessary.
Finally, when asked about his assessment of the election’s fairness, Aziegbemi asserted that the PDP had consistently been open and transparent about election results. He encouraged the opposition to accept the outcome and utilize legal channels for redress if they so desired. He also extended an olive branch, inviting other political parties to collaborate and contribute their ideas for the betterment of Edo State.
Aziegbemi acknowledged the challenges faced by EDSIEC in conducting a manual election, particularly in the absence of a Biometric Voter Authentication System (BVAS). Despite these obstacles, he remained optimistic about the future governance of Edo State and the potential for cross-party cooperation for the benefit of the state’s residents.