We Would Have Won If the Election Was Free, Fair – LP Chairman, Ogbalo

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The Edo State Chapter of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Kelly Ogbalo has broken his silence after INEC declared APC’s Monday Okpebholo winner of the governorship election held on Saturday.

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According to Ogbalo, LP would have won the state governorship election if the election was conducted in a free and fair manner.

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Ogbalo made this allegation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN in Benin on Monday.

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He said the election was marred by serious irregularities, including open vote-buying that the security agencies failed to check.

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When asked if LP would challenge the result in court, Ogbalo said the party had yet to call a state council meeting to take a position on the matter.

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Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had on September 22 declared Monday Okpebholo of the APC winner of the election.

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Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 247,274 votes while LP’s candidate, Mr Olumide Akpata, came third with 22,763 votes.

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“Labour Party won the election but was not allowed to take possession.

“What I mean by that is that the election was marred with serious irregularities; there was open vote buying. The security agencies failed to check this anomaly.

“So in such a way, where votes were bought and with manipulation of results here and there, what do you expect?” he asked

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