Support Processes To Challenge Edo Guber Poll Results – U.S Tells INEC

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to support the processes to challenge the results of the Edo State gubernatorial election held last week Saturday.

The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Richard Mills Jr., in a statement on Tuesday, said the American government also called on the people of Edo to remain calm.

Osun Defender reports that Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner of the poll with 291,667 votes to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 247,274 votes and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) who came a distant third in the race with 22,763 votes.

However, the election results have been rejected by the main opposition parties.

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“The U.S. Mission in Nigeria commends the people of Edo State for the widely peaceful conduct of gubernatorial elections on September 21 and reiterates calls for calm following the announcement of results.

“We commend Governor (Godwin) Obaseki’s appeal for peace and urge all stakeholders, including INEC, to support established electoral processes and respect legal procedures to challenge results.

“Transparency and due process are crucial to maintaining public confidence in any democratic system. The United States reaffirms our commitment to supporting free, fair, transparent, and credible elections in Nigeria and will continue to monitor the situation closely,” the statement said in part.