- The PDP demands the arrest of INEC officer Obozuwa Josephine for allegedly manipulating Edo election results, claiming she allocated 352 votes to APC
- PDP accuses both APC and INEC of electoral fraud, urging the cancellation of results in affected polling units and accountability for misconduct
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Obozuwa Josephine, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Presiding Officer, for allegedly manipulating the results of the Edo State Governorship election in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement released by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party accused Josephine of fraudulently allocating votes to the APC in the Osholo Primary School Polling Unit, located in Weppa, Etsako East Local Government Area. The statement claims that while 213 voters were accredited, 352 votes were allocated to the APC, 52 to the PDP and one to the Labour Party, totalling 406 votes cast—far exceeding the number of accredited voters.
The PDP condemned Josephine’s actions, likening them to the conduct of Mallam Hudu Ari, the former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, whose involvement in electoral fraud during the 2023 Governorship election led to protests. The party warned that similar consequences could arise if such acts continue unpunished.
The PDP also accused the APC of compromising INEC by planting party members as polling officers to manipulate the electoral process. It demanded that INEC not only prosecute Josephine but also cancel the election in the affected polling unit and address similar infractions.
The PDP commended the vigilance of Edo State citizens and encouraged them to remain resilient in the face of electoral manipulation.