The People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) collation agent for Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, Dr. Tony Osaigbovo Iyoha, has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, against setting the country on fire by its handling of Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Iyoha, who rejected the result declared for Etsako West local government area, expressing awe at the figures in which the All-Progressives Congress, (APC) trounced the People’s Democratic Party, PDP with 32, 107 votes against the latter’s17, 483 votes, wondered where all the votes came from.
Former governor of the state, and senator representing Edo North senatorial district, and the reinstated deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, both hailed from the local government.
But responding swiftly to Iyoha’s query, the APC’s collation agent, Jarret Tenebe, insisted that the figures were a true reflection of what happened on the field, and rubbed it in that the combined forces of Oshiomhole and Shaibu, who recently moved to the APC, produced the result, adding that he also voted in the area.
Reacting to the result after it was announced, Iyoha said “I think this result speaks for itself. You heard when you announced the figure for APC, the audience, they were murmuring; they were laughing when that figure was announced. So, we would like to know, I know it’s not in my place to ask questions where these figures came out from. This is taking the art of manufacturing to the highest level. Where these figures came out from. Look at the turnout and compare it to the turnout of other local governments.
“So, I also want to please beg; we know, not so recent, we saw what happened during June 12 when collation of results was stopped at some point. And last year, we also saw what happened during the general elections. The activities of INEC in recent times pushed this country to the precipice, and when the people get…, at a time they have to react. And I want to assure you none of you on the high table, including us here, is going to be spared when this whole thing conflagrates.
“It is not a true reflection of what happened yesterday in Etsako. I made bold to say, and I say that we reject in its entirety this total result from Etsako West”.
Countering Iyoha, Tenebe said it was not the APC’s fault that the APC won. According to him, “The result that is just announced is a true reflection of what happened at the field yesterday. It is not anybody’s fault. If you throw away something that strongly belongs to you, and expect to get results, that local government had been the local government in Edo North, and most times in Edo State that has always had the highest turnout of votes. But as at the time the number two man of this state crossed to my party, I expected that the votes would be boosted. And that is what you are seeing here today. So, it is true reflection. And fortunately, that is where I vote”.