**Date:** September 4, 2023
*Edo State, Nigeria*:
The Labour Party (LP) has officially rejected the results of the local government election held in Edo State on Sunday, September 3, 2023. The party criticized the polls, describing them as a “mockery of democracy.”
In the elections, conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission (ESIEC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged victorious in all 18 chairperson positions across Edo North, Edo Central, and Edo South senatorial districts.
Obiora Ifoh, the LP’s national publicity secretary, issued a statement on Sunday calling for the conduct of new local government elections in the state.
The LP alleged several irregularities in the conduct of the elections, including electoral officers arriving late or not showing up at some polling units and insufficient ballot papers and result sheets provided in some areas. Despite these alleged issues, results were announced with PDP candidates declared as elected.
Ifoh’s statement reads: “Edo people and Nigerians deserve the best to represent them in government. What happened in Edo state was a mockery of democracy, and such must not be allowed to stand.”
The Labour Party called on the state government to condemn the election’s outcome, denounce the results, and call for fresh and credible local government elections.
Additionally, the LP called on the National Assembly to abolish State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) across Nigeria. The party claimed that SIECs have failed to uphold democracy and are controlled by state governments, suggesting that local government elections be entrusted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for proper management.
Governor Godwin Obaseki expressed satisfaction with the election’s conduct and was surprised by the high voter turnout despite adverse weather conditions.
