It’s quite interesting to see how the tides have turned for the Edo APC. Just a few days ago, the party and its supporters were celebrating what can only be described as a premature jubilation following INEC’s controversial declaration of their candidate as the winner of the recent gubernatorial election. Fast forward to today, the same APC is now staging daily protests. The irony? Their protests are centered on INEC’s decision to review the election results due to pressure from international communities, prominent Nigerians and a petition submitted by the PDP.
The PDP, supported by solid evidence from the results uploaded on INEC’s IREV portal which uploaded 98.83% thereby putting PDP in the lead, firmly believes they won the election and demanded a review of the declared outcome. This led to INEC forming a committee to re-examine the results. Mrs. Aziegbemin, who was sent from Abuja to head this critical review, insisted on carrying out a thorough assessment of the electoral process—an action that has triggered panic within the ranks of the APC, leading to their continuous protests.
While PDP protested for INEC to return the people’s mandate and ensure that the true will of Edo citizens is upheld, APC’s protests seem to be aimed at preventing the review from happening altogether. In a twist that’s almost laughable, APC supporters, particularly the women, are planning to take their protest to the Oba’s Palace today, pleading with the monarch to intervene and stop the review.
One can’t help but wonder—why is APC so keen to involve the revered Palace in their dirty politics? It’s baffling and raises serious questions about the party’s confidence in the legitimacy of their victory. For a party that celebrated INEC’s initial declaration, their sudden resistance to the review suggests they fear the truth coming to light.
No matter how long these protests last or how many streets they march, the people’s mandate will eventually be restored. The truth has a way of finding its way out, and the will of Edo citizens will not be suppressed by desperate tactics. The game has changed, and APC can’t continue to drag traditional institutions into their political drama.
The time for manipulation is over—Edo deserves true leadership, and no protest can stop the truth from prevailing.
