Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has rejected the recent comments made by the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi regarding the integrity of the September 21 2024 governorship election in the state.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua said Obi’s allegations that the election was not free and fair were not only unfounded but also disrespectful to the will of the people of Edo State, who he said exercised their democratic right in a peaceful and transparent manner.

“The Edo State Governorship Election was conducted by the highest standards of electoral integrity, as observed by both local and international observers. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC) ensured a level playing field, and the process was widely acknowledged as credible.

“Mr Obi’s pronouncements are not supported by any credible evidence and appear to be driven by political expediency rather than a genuine concern for democratic principles. Regrettably, a figure of his standing would choose to undermine the democratic process with such baseless allegations.

“The Edo State Government urges Mr Obi to retract his statements and respect the mandate freely given by the people of Edo State. We implore him to contribute constructively to the nation’s democratic discourse rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric,” he said.

According to Itua, the peace and stability of Edo State were paramount, stating that Governor Okpebholo would not allow anyone to jeopardise the hard-earned democratic gains made so far.

The Chief Press Secretary reiterated that the people of Edo State had spoken, and their voice must be respected. (Daily Sun)