Edo PDP vows to challenge state Assembly poll result

CHAIRMAN of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, Chief Dan Orbih,  has said that the party will challenge some of the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for weekend’s House of Assembly election in the state at the tribunal over alleged irregularities.

He, however, congratulated the winners of the election in the state, saying that the state required a vibrant Assembly now that it was in a difficult financial position.

He lamented the debt profile of the state which he said was now $124 million external debt, apart from the domestic ones.

Chief Orbih, who addressed journalists in Benin, yesterday, said results of the elections have shown that Edo people now have faith in the PDP and that the party will not relent in the task of providing a viable alternative as democracy cannot survive without an opposition party.

He said that the time had come for elected political office holders to put the interests of the people of the state ahead of their personal and party interests because the challenges facing the state were enormous.

He insisted that by winning five out of the nine House of Representatives seats and two out of the three Senate positions and three seats in the state House of Assembly, the task of dislodging the All Progressives Congress, APC, from the state had begun.

On the alleged irregularities that characterised the state House of Assembly elections, Chief Orbih said the party had contracted a team of lawyers to look into the reports of the election and that the reports were being put together to decide whether the party would approach the tribunal or not.

He said: “We will continue with our constructive criticism which will bring the best out of Edo people. The politics of our state is now balanced, there is no longer one dominant party. I congratulate all those elected during the elections, irrespective of their political parties.

“Of course we saw the undercurrent political power play of those who were supposed to conduct the election and the APC government of Adams Oshiomhole.

“Very soon, we will come out with our position, including that of Orhiomwon/Uhumwonde federal constituency and Orhiomwon state constituency.”