PDP Claims APC and Okpebholo Exit Edo Guber Race Due to Fake Voter Card Allegations
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate for the September 21, 2024, Edo State Governorship election, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, should be disqualified from the race. This is because it was discovered that the APC candidate is not a registered voter.
The PDP found out about this issue after checking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal. PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, made a statement in Abuja on Friday about this discovery. He said that the APC candidate allegedly submitted a fake voter card in his Form EC9 to INEC, which is a major issue and should disqualify him from the election.
Ologunagba also criticized the APC for sponsoring a candidate with questionable documents for such an important position. He mentioned that the APC had submitted a blurred and unreadable voter card to INEC, which they claimed was for their candidate, and had not responded to allegations that the card was forged.
He stated that this action by the APC was an insult to the people of Edo State and to the country’s democratic practices. According to the PDP, based on the Constitution of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, and the Criminal Code Act, the APC and its candidate are not eligible to participate in the election.
The PDP also claimed that some APC leaders are trying to pressure INEC officials to alter the data to include fake voter registration information for their candidate. The PDP urged INEC to resist this pressure, as there is clear evidence on the INEC portal showing that the APC candidate is not registered as a voter.
The PDP demanded that the APC and its candidate withdraw from the election immediately, as they cannot legally compete. The PDP also encouraged the people of Edo State to stay vigilant and ensure that Dr. Asue Ighodalo is elected in the upcoming governorship election.
