Edo election sparks controversy as TAF President calls it a “National Disgrace”

Jake Epelle, Founder and President of The Albino Foundation (TAF) Africa, has condemned the recent Edo state governorship election, describing it as one of Nigeria’s worst electoral experiences.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Epelle expressed disappointment with the conduct of the election and criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for failing to uphold transparency and integrity despite prior assurances.

“This election is a national disgrace,” Epelle stated, lamenting that the electoral process continues to decline even as efforts are made to improve it. “I thought INEC would redeem its credibility, but this has turned out to be one of the worst elections in recent history.”

“I thought that INEC in general would take this election and perform credibly well so that they could begin to redeem the confidence and trust deficit they suffered in the previous election.”

He maintained that his criticism of the exercise is not borne out of any partisan view, saying; “I am apolitical. I don’t care who wins. In this context, both the APC and PDP violated the rules.”

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Epelle emphasized that his criticism was not politically motivated, stressing that both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) violated electoral rules during the election.

His remarks came as the results, which declared APC’s Monday Okepboholo the winner with 291,667 votes, were met with protest and claims of irregularities, particularly from PDP supporters who argue the results were manipulated.

Citing a joint statement from YIAGA Africa and the Women’s Trust Fund, Epelle warned that logistical problems and mismanagement of resources must be addressed before the Ondo governorship election and the 2027 general elections.

He highlighted the recurring issues with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), which INEC relied on for logistics, saying their inefficiency undermined the process.

“If these issues are not corrected, we’ll see the same problems in future elections, including Ondo and the 2027 general election,” he warned, adding that massive amounts of money and resources are being wasted on flawed processes.

Epelle also compared the recent election to those conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that despite the challenges at the time, electoral procedures seemed more credible.

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He further commended the Nigerian media for their comprehensive coverage of the election, praising journalists for their dedication and risk-taking in reporting under difficult circumstances.

The Edo election has been widely criticized, with many stakeholders accusing the ruling APC of using “federal might” to influence the outcome. Protests have followed the results, with the loudest opposition coming from PDP supporters, who allege that the announced results do not reflect the true will of the Edo people.

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, leading the PDP’s charge, also questioned the authenticity of the results, citing discrepancies between the official results and those uploaded on INEC’s IReV portal.